Editing STS FAQ

The '''STS FAQ''' collects questions and answers related to the real [[STS]], not the various available addons.

==Communications==

===What is the purpose of the Ku-Band antenna?===

The Ku-Band antenna gets used for:
*High speed communication with ground stations
*Communication with the [[TDRSS]].
*As [[rendezvous]] [[radar]] for tracking the rendezvous target.

===How is the RMS arm attached in the cargo bay while launch and reentry?===

The [[RMS]] arm is held in place by a set of mechanic latches. 

==Thermal protection system==

===If there will be a damaged heat shield how will the crew change it?===

Currently, there's no no way to repair the orbiter's [[heat shield]] or [[thermal protection system]]. The TPS consists of both thermal blankets, silica tiles and [[reinforced carbon carbon]](RCC) nosecap and wing leading edge panels.

==How is a damaged Thermal Protection System detected?===
During launch and ascent, there's a whole bunch of ground tracking cameras and radars that observes the Space Shuttle for any debris events. There's even a set of six cameras on the shuttle itself!

Here's the locations of those cameras:
*In LOX feedline fairing(black object on the middle of the External Tank). This one transmitts directly to the ground during launch
*3 cameras on each Solid Rocket Booster. These cameras are not available "live" but they're retrieved when the spent SRB casings have been towed back to Port Canaveral.

And when on-orbit, the crew will use a 15 m long Candian built Orbiter Boom Sensor System to get a real close up of the TPS. The OBSS is equipped with a Laser Camera System, Laser Dynamic Range Imager and black&white Intensified TeleVision Camera.

Also during rendezvous with the International Space Station, the orbiter will do a 360° pitch-around manuever that will allow the ISS crew to photograph the TPS that will later be downlinked to the ground.