Laser Scanning Space Shuttle Discovery

NASA’s Space Shuttle Mission STS-121, scheduled for launch this Saturday, July 1, will again have a triangulation-based 3D laser scanner from Neptec (Ottawa, ON) on board. Last summer we reported how this device was used in the shuttle’s return-to-flight mission to examine suspected areas of damage to the craft’s protective skin. In the upcoming flight, we understand the scanner will likely be used early in the mission to scan so-called “areas of interest” – potential trouble spots identified by 2D inspection – and late in the flight to look for micrometeorite damage. We’ll follow up after the flight.