Torqueing the FEA

The FEA, about 10 cm on a side, sits on a table while the clean-suited Jonathan gently twists on the torque driver, which protrudes from his hands like the stinger of some unearthly insect. (87K JPEG)

Jonathan is tightening some screws on the Front-End Assembly. The vibration of launch can cause screws to back out of their holes, so we have to take care that doesn't happen. One of the standard solutions is to use spring washers (Bellevilles) under the screws, and then tighten them down to a particular torque. Too loose, and they can back out; too tight and you might snap the head off. So we use a screwdriver with a torque setting built in.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Goddard Space Flight Center