trvlr2, thanks for the info on the Ku-band radar. However, there is no S-band radar on the shuttle. The vehicle does have a communication system that runs on the S-band, but no radar. The only radar systems are the Ku-band and the radar altimiter. There are no other radar systems on the orbiter! None at all!
Also, you guys are assuming the object in question was metallic. If it was a tile spacer or plastic bag, there would have been no way the Ku-band radar could have tracked the object.
Assuming the object could have been tracked, the Ku-band radar might have done the job, but it would also have needed to be turned on at the time. The Ku-band radar is used for docking procedures but other than that, the radar is going to be on standby or turned completely. If the Ku-band was off, it would have needed some time to warm up warm up before it can be used. Also, the Ku-band antenna itself may not have been deployed. Again, this would have caused a delay in getting the radar up and running to track the object.
Another problem is that the Ku-band radar talks directly to the General Purpose Computer (GPC). There isn't a radar screen in the shuttle like you see on Star Trek. The radar tells the computer where its target it and the computer fires thrusters to guide the vehicle close to the target. The data from the radar might be available through ground telemetry, though, or the numbers might be accessible in the glass cockpit displays in the crew compartment.
If any of you want the real story on this problem, wait a few days and then check out this page:
http://www11.jsc.nasa.gov/news/columbia/anomaly/
The anomaly reports should be online relatively quickly and we can see what really happened.
Also, you guys are assuming the object in question was metallic. If it was a tile spacer or plastic bag, there would have been no way the Ku-band radar could have tracked the object.
Assuming the object could have been tracked, the Ku-band radar might have done the job, but it would also have needed to be turned on at the time. The Ku-band radar is used for docking procedures but other than that, the radar is going to be on standby or turned completely. If the Ku-band was off, it would have needed some time to warm up warm up before it can be used. Also, the Ku-band antenna itself may not have been deployed. Again, this would have caused a delay in getting the radar up and running to track the object.
Another problem is that the Ku-band radar talks directly to the General Purpose Computer (GPC). There isn't a radar screen in the shuttle like you see on Star Trek. The radar tells the computer where its target it and the computer fires thrusters to guide the vehicle close to the target. The data from the radar might be available through ground telemetry, though, or the numbers might be accessible in the glass cockpit displays in the crew compartment.
If any of you want the real story on this problem, wait a few days and then check out this page:
http://www11.jsc.nasa.gov/news/columbia/anomaly/
The anomaly reports should be online relatively quickly and we can see what really happened.
