The Application of Electron Microscopy Techniques to the Space Shuttle Columbia Accident Investigation
The Application of Electron Microscopy Techniques to the Space Shuttle Columbia Accident Investigation
复制标题
电子显微镜技术在哥伦比亚号航天飞机事故调查中的应用
DOI：
10.1017/s1551929500053748
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发表时间：
2005
期刊：
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
G. Jerman
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Sandeep R. Shah;G. Jerman
哥伦比亚号航天飞机结束了为期16天的STS-107研究任务返回，在进入地球高层大气的界面开始之前，标称系统性能。大约1分24秒进入进入界面的峰值加热区后，观察到左侧主起落架刹车线的非标称温升。近七分钟后，与哥伦比亚航空公司失去了所有联系。在加利福尼亚州、内华达州和新墨西哥州上空的再入剖面上，人们定期观察到碎片离开航天飞机的飞行路线，直到它在德克萨斯州上空最终解体。在随后的调查中，电子显微镜技术对于揭示导致哥伦比亚号和她的船员失踪的致命损害的位置至关重要。
The Space Shuttle Columbia was returning from a 16-day research mission, STS-107, with nominal system performance prior to the beginning of the entry interface into earth's upper atmosphere. Approximately one minute and twenty four seconds into the peak heating region of the entry interface, an off-nominal temperature rise was observed in the left main landing gear brake line. Nearly seven minutes later, all contact was lost with Columbia. Debris was observed periodically exiting the Shuttle's flight path throughout the reentry profile over California, Nevada, and New Mexico, until its final breakup over Texas. During the subsequent investigation, electron microscopy techniques were crucial in revealing the location of the fatal damage that resulted in the loss of Columbia and her crew.