Shuttle to Test Starfire Repair Materials on Next Flight

A repair kit using Starfire Systems’ pre-ceramic polymers will be tested on the Space Shuttle Discovery scheduled to launch this Wednesday, July 13. The kit will be one of three methods evaluated by astronauts on the July 13 mission for repairing damage to the ship’s heat shielding in orbit. A puncture in the wing heat shielding brought down the Shuttle Columbia over two years ago. The kit could be used in an emergency situation to repair actual damage.

A sealing paste comprising Starfire polymers and other ingredients is designed to be dispensed in a caulk-gun type device to seal small cracks and damaged coatings in the Shuttle’s heat resistant surfaces to protect astronauts from re-entry temperatures that can exceed 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The kit will be tested by astronauts on a simulated Shuttle panel in the spacecraft’s cargo bay during a spacewalk.

The repair kit using Starfire materials, was developed for NASA by Alliant Techsystems Inc, a Minnesota-based advanced weapon and space systems company. Starfire’s polymers were selected for their unique ability to convert from a caulk-like material to a very high temperature solid ceramic during the heat of re-entry. Starfire is also working with NASA contractors on three additional repair systems, likely to be tested on future Shuttle flights. They are being developed to repair small areas, large areas and the Shuttle tiles.

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