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RI | Research | Projects | Tessellator
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Text only version of this site
![[Project image]](/images/projects/tessellator.jpg) |
Tessellator This project is no longer active.
Head: Kevin Dowling
Mailing address:
Associated centers: VASC and FRC
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| Project Description |
Tessellator inspects and waterproofs each of the 17,000 tiles that coat the space shuttle's underside, saving humans a laborious task that lasts from the time the shuttle lands at Kennedy Space Center until just before liftoff. By inspecting tiles more accurately than the human eye, Tessellator reduces the need for multiple reinspections. It also injects into each tile a toxic waterproofing chemical, which prevents the lightweight, silica tiles from absorbing water. Human workers have had to wear heavy suits and respirators to inject the chemical, all the while maneuvering in a crowded work area.
| Past members |
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Name | Title | Email Address |
| Kevin Dowling | Project Scientist | ||
| Jesse Easudes | Visiting Engineer | ||
| Anthony Nolla | Technician III, RI/ECE | ||
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Hagen Schempf | Principal Systems Scientist | hagen@rec.ri.cmu.edu (Currently On Leave) |
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William Red L. Whittaker | University Professor | red@ri.cmu.edu |
| Publications |
Note: This list may not be comprehensive. It contains only those publications in the RI publications database. Entries are listed in reverse chronological order.