🚀 go-pugleaf

I wrote:
 I think that Robert Casey is referring to some testing that was done once it
 was decided that the Enterprise absolutely, definitely would not be used for 
 flight.  To test the ability of GVTs (ground vibration tests, a classical
 structural test technique) to find damage in the Orbiters, structural elements
 (i.e. wing spars) were cut. GVTs run before and after the damage was inflicted
 were then examined to see if they could be used in place of other methods 
 (actual inspection, I think) to assess the structural integrity of the 
 Orbiters, particularly for less than total damage to a structural element.  
 The structural elements were cut to various depths, although I don't think
 any were completely severed.  After all, it's still strong enough to be
 ferried.

 Thus, the Enterprise is _not_ flightworthy without structural refurbishment.

But I forgot to state specifically that the intentional damage was fairly
minor and that the vehicle is probably flightworthy for low airspeeds (low
qbars, actually) such as those encountered in the ALT program.  

I don't remember seeing any results of the study, either, so I can't comment
on how well it worked.
--

M F Shafer
NASA Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility
shafer@elxsi.dfrf.nasa.gov or shafer@drynix.dfrf.nasa.gov

NASA management doesn't know what I'm doing and I don't know what they're
doing, and everybody's happy this way.