Tuesday, May 10, 2005

5:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Abstract:

The NASA Space Shuttle has 2.5 million parts and is thus the most complex engineering system known. Nondestructive evaluation was integral to design and production and remains an essential element in preparation for flight. The unique nature of the system, operating environment, missions, in many cases, one of a kind, aging components present special challenges and very special challenges to the NDE community.

Some of the special NDE challenges will be presented and members will be requested to provide Level IV engineering solutions to some of the tough challenges. On-going and planned NDE applications will be discussed. Reflight of the shuttle is now planned for the 22 May – 10 June window. Some of the new NDE additions to preparation will be discussed.

About the Speaker:

Our speaker, Ward Rummel, has been working NDE for space shuttle for the past thirty five years. The “probability of detection” POD methods were initially developed for application to Space Shuttle. He is current working on both “return to flight” technology teams and on an advanced team that is addressed integrated NASA systems challenges. He is the recipient of the Robert C. McMaster Gold Medal, presented by ASNT and the John W. Lincoln Gold Medal from the United States Air Force.