KSC-2009-3312

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A view of the flame trench on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida where repairs of the Fondue Fyre have been made. After launch of space shuttle Atlantis on the STS-125 mission on May 11, a 25-square-foot area of Fondue Fyre from the north side of the solid rocket booster flame deflector was damaged. Some pneumatic lines (gaseous nitrogen, pressurized air) in the area also were damaged and needed to be repaired. The flame trench channels the flames and smoke exhaust of the shuttle's solid rocket boosters away from the space shuttle during liftoff. Fondue Fyre is a fire-resistant concrete-like material that replaced the original flame trench bricks. It can be sprayed on the surface. Pad 39A will be used for the launch of space shuttle Endeavour on the STS-127 mission targeted for June 13. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann