NASA Chief Gives Go-Ahead to Launch

[Astrosag]

According to CNN, Griffen said that NASA is "ready to go" for the launch to the House Science Committtee today. Last I read its either July 13th, 31st of pushed to September if Discovery isn't launched on the prior dates, correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[shuttle_rtf]

I gave this a mention on the NSF site and the RTF thread here. He said it at House Science Committee today I'm not sure if he was either taken out of context or he's trying to pre-empt what he's going to hear at the FRR...given at least one departmental head wants a delay added to the 13th date as work is still to be done.

 

[Leovinus]

This is after that panel deemed Shuttle problems haven't been solved yet? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[najab]

You have to read what they actually wrote or listen to the press-conference, instead of the reporter's 'distillation' of it. Basically, they said that NASA hadn't met the CAIB requirements because they <b>couldn't</b> meet them. The CAIB report required them to develop tile/RCC repair techniques before they flew the Shuttle, but there's no way to test them in the actual space environment without flying the Shuttle. And so on, the CIAB report set an impossibly high bar - but it was done deliberately.<p>As one poster's sig line says "Aim high. You might miss the target, but at least you don't shoot yourself in the foot." NASA has made enough progress towards the CAIB goals that even though they haven't met them 100%, the vehicle is safer to fly now than it was in 2002.<p>More importantly, they said that additional time on the ground wasn't going to improve anything. The only way to test, the only way to certify, the only way to prove that the improvements work is to fly.</p></p>

 

[shuttle_rtf]

Agreed.

 

[shuttle_rtf]

Agreed again. It's pretty shocking how some (most) of the media tried to spin this into some damning appraisal by the Task Group, when it was pretty clear they praised NASA and despite being a hard taskmaster felt NASA had done more and above what was asked of them. Three 'issues' were noted, but as NajaB mentions, NASA has gotten to a point where this is as safe as possible, and now they need to fly Discovery as the only way to verify the modifications made.

 

[spacester]

Griffin is on record that recommendations are just that.<br /><br />As Administrator, the call is his. If he is to be bound by recommendations from outside, he says they need to get a new Administrator.<br /><br />Im sure the FRR is important, but I imagine he's a step ahead of them before the meeting even starts.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[spacester]

Reporters are generally idiots.<br /><br />It's too bad there isn't someone who knows what he's talking about, yet takes the time to hang out with people who know things he doesn't. Maybe even hang out at a space message board or something.<br /><br />Maybe even start a website. Maybe a British guy or something.<br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />You are a breath of fresh air, Shuttle_RTF<br /><br />Maybe there's hope for Space Journalism after all. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Leovinus]

"Reporters are generally idiots"<br /><br />For an example, see my "bad headline" thread in Free Space. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[grooble]

Did Buzz Aldrin really roll his eyes and tell the panel to "grow a pair" ?

 

[lunatic133]

LOL that would be freaking awesome if he did. That's what 90% of us have been saying all along, anyway

 

[shuttle_rtf]

Thanks for that, means a lot <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[Astrosag]

Yeah, najab nailed it....its not because they opted not to or forgot about it..it was technically extremely challenging. Most astronauts and engineers say that the hole Columbia had wouldn't be repairable by astroanuts b/c of its size and critical area. Many engineers say that there's only a small range of damage that astronauts can fix inflight anyways....its safer to tackle the foam/ice issue and have a retreat plan (like the one to the ISS) than to come up with a inflight repair technique.

 

[Astrosag]

He said most....we don't think you're an idiot...at least not all the time. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[Leovinus]

If so, I want to see that on CSPAN. NASA TV should put that in its "Video File" segment! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[ozspace]

Hey RTF, I just went to your NSF site and saw the latest article headline "Langley eyes closely watching Discovery" but my brain registered it as: <br /><br />"Langley closes eyes watching Discovery"<br /><br />Freudian?

 

[shuttle_rtf]

No idea how you managed that! But you're really going to struggle with the "Sally sells sea shells on the sea shore" story today then <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />