Hail, Columbia!

[TheSlashFiveTourer]

HAIL, COLUMBIA!
1 FEBRUARY 2003
Rest in Peace in The Heavens

[Gnome]

Good Job Slash Five!

I am concerned that NASA has lost it's mind though. Did anyone see the news last night?
NASA says they are set to go in May for another launch. NASA has even come up with a way for the Astronauts to inspect the space craft while in space. Thats cool,but NASA says they have not come up with a way for the Astronauts to repair the craft in Space. What? Did I hear that right?
NASA says if the Astronauts find any tiles missing while in space that they can all move into the Space Lab thingy,and wait for another shuttle to come get em. DO WHAT? Are these people who are going into space frigin nuts?

SCREW NASA!!!

[sgborgstrom]

Those who choose to fly on the shuttle know what they're getting into- much like those who choose to ride motorcycles (should) know what they are getting into. Should the Columbia have been launched that day in 2003? Obviously not. Has NASA made efforts to learn from the mistakes? I think so. Remember, to most of us the shuttle crew are merely faces, to those at NASA they were/are friends and co-workers.

Technology will always have shortcomings, we acknowledge this, try to fix what we know is wrong and move on to find the next weak point. Part of what makes us human is pushing the envelope and accepting the risks that come with being on the frontier.

Steve

[Gnome]

No, I think NASA has been smoking grass. "Let me see,you want me to get in that thing,get shot from the ground,fly in space,and if a tile is missing,don't worry we'll come get ya"? That's heavy...

I always watched the launches when I was a kid. I would listen to every word Jules Bergman would say. I wanted to be one of those guys! It must be great to get to go,but I guess I'd just be one of those rebels who would be asking questions before I would let them ignite a bomb under my arse. :dunno

[BradfordBenn]

There is a quote that has been attributed to a few different astronauts, "We are sitting on top of a complex explosive machine that has been built by the lowest bidder"

There is a risk and they are aware of it. Nothing is safe.

[riderR1150GSAdv]

There is no way to repair a tile in space with a sort of spray on material. These tiles are each fitted for the specific location they are mounted on. They are very brittle and light weight and the reason for the different shapes and sizes is that they than heat up at different rates.
The reason I know this is that a friend of mine is on the "tile team" at NASA and my dad worked on a way to machine them more efficiently.
These ceramic tiles btw have obviously nothing in common with the flatware we eat from.
I salute the astronauts for daring to climb in a flying machine launched by a force equal to a nuclear explosion. They are explorers who deserve the best equipment we can build.

[Gnome]

I agree all the way with that one rider1150. They do deserve the best equipment,and I salute them for what they do.

I just have concerns. :dunno
Here we go: The May launch goes as planned,they get to space and inspect the shuttle. Oh no there are a few tiles missing. They all go hop in the space lab and jettison the Space Shuttle to the space junk yard.
The next shuttle that comes back to get them loses some tiles. What now?

Ya gotta wonder about plans like that...

[The_Veg]

In that case I'd guess that they'd ride home in a Soyuz that would be sent up unmanned.