Explanation about the shuttle tile Gap Fillers

Ok so picture 1, you see a tile. The soft looking stuff is called "Sip". You see the red stuff that has smeared on the tile side wall? Well that is called RTV.

In the next picture, that's the Gap Filler. Now not every single tile on the orbiter needs a gap filler. It's just that sometimes, there are gaps in between the tile and in order to prevent any type of air/heat flow to enter through the cavity, a gap filler is installed.

So this is it upclose. Going back to the tile picture, the side with the soft looking side is what is attached to the surface of the orbiter. So the other side of the tile is black and has a part number sprayed on it. This is what you see on the whole belly side of the orbiter.

Once the tiles are installed is when the gap fillers are installed. So right now, the installation of the gap fillers is what is trying to be perfected. The red RTV is applied to the gap filler and the issue right now is that when it installed, the RTV smears or droops down against the tile sidewall, which creates less bonding closer to the surface.

But this is why we have great team working on this. They are testing new methods, coming up with the reasons certains ones have failed, and we are doing alot of failure analysis.

Till next time everyone.. and I promise it won't be like 2 weeks later. Take care.


P.S By the way.. the rope loops that you see in the gap filler pictures are not part of the installation. They are doing pull tests in that picture to see how many pounds it can withstand until it fails.

Insight of the shuttle tiles and gap fillers

I know, I know.. it's been a while since I have posted something, but I promise this time, I won't ever give us that much space again. haha. I do have some good news though. Not last week, but the week before, I had to give 2 big presentations on the work I have been doing on the specification for tile fabrication. After giving one of the presentations, I received a Boeing achievement award from my manager and the logistics manager. I was pretty proud. Now aside from that, the big pressing issue right now is the bonding of the tile gap fillers. They're currently trying out different processes to ensure that the gap fillers will be bonded 100% with no chance of failure. I am going to post two picture right now and explain them. But this is basically what I have been working on lately. Still waiting to hear back from ERAU. And early tomorrow I find out if I've been approved for my first home!!! :) If so, I have the walk-through tomorrow and close on Friday. (Cross your fingers for me!!) :)
Alright two cool pictures with explanations coming right up!!

A busy week...

I was extremely busy this past week. I have been helping with failure analysis on the gap fillers. You want to know something cool?? I actually held in my hand the two gap fillers that were taken off in orbit! The team is analyzing the reasons why the gap fillers were protruding as well as implementing new methods on how to install gap fillers. I would post pictures up, but I got a virus on my computer and am try to clean it all up. For the mean time, I'll just be updating what I've been doing. Till next time....

Enjoy your Labor Day Weekend

I won't be posting anything until after the weekend. I hope you all enjoy the long weekend either relaxing by yourself, with family, or in good company of some friends. I can't wait because my birthday is on Sunday! :) I'll be 24! A great game of golf awaits me on Sunday. (hee hee)

This past week was so busy for me. I have been taking part and listening in on the gap filler assessment team. A great team of engineers, technicians, quality, and safety people meet everyday to lay out the problems with the gaps fillers. They are also conducting tests to create a better method in bonding the gap fillers. I have also been working with specifications this week which include the processes for the technicians to fabricate the shuttle tiles. I have been learning so much on the job! Also this week, I was able to see the MPLM (Multi-Purpose Logistics Module). This was the payload that flew on the flight. It basically looks like a big tin canister. They filled this module with the ISS trash. Some of techs were telling me that it smelled so bad especially since it was sitting in the hot California sun. The cool thing is that they run lab tests on the trash that the astronauts bring back.