The year 2007 was one of the most intense for the Space Shuttle fleet, marked by freak weather and mid-orbit emergencies that required unprecedented ingenuity. Primary Objective Key Challenge/Repair ISS Truss Segment S3/S4 Extensive hail damage to the External Tank. STS-118 S5 Truss & External Stowage Tile gouge on the orbiter's belly. STS-120 Harmony (Node 2) Module Ripped ISS solar array repair. The Hailstorm that Nearly Grounded Atlantis (STS-117)
NASA rolled the shuttle back to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). Technicians spent months sanding and reapplying foam to ensure a "crack-free" surface, as loose foam was the primary safety concern for the fleet. Endeavour’s Heat Shield Scare (STS-118) space shuttle mission 2007 crack free
The hail created between 1,000 and 2,000 "divots" or small cracks in the External Tank's foam insulation and damaged 26 heat shield tiles on the shuttle’s wing. The year 2007 was one of the most