SQJ Taipei

This story from AP talks about the gouge caused by ice and includes the repair options.

If the gouge is deemed serious and cannot be fixed, the shuttle astronauts would have to remain at the space station. They have more than two months of supplies with them, and a rescue shuttle could be launched by early October, Shannon said.

The astronauts have three methods for repairing tile damage, if necessary: They could apply black paint, screw on a protective plate, or squirt in goo.

Seriously… I know that the options are bound to be very limited up there… but of the 3 options as they are listed above I’m thinking that “screw on a protective plate” seems like the best option.

“Squirt in goo”? I’m sure there is more to that goo than we know, but it doesn’t sound very reassuring… neither does “apply black paint”.

The photo below (via NASA via Reuters via Yahoo) shows the damaged area as a white area on the left of the image… it is about 3 inches across.