NASA WIMPS OUT

[mkham6]

<b>NASA WIMPS OUT</b><br /> Nasa has continued their defeatist attitude so evident in the scandalous abandonment of the Columbia astronauts (only a couple of space suits, no notification to astronauts for 5 days, no repair kits, no inspection of shuttle by telescopes). Inexplicably, they announced the immediate grounding of the shuttle fleet, to the delight of the poor crew up in space, because more pieces broke off, rather than at least wait till they landed. Frankly, this problem was to be expected- when you redesign something, you introduce more sources of problems; and the original contention that foam was light and harmless was mostly correct (see how it flutters away in video). The problem in 2003 was:<br /><br />http://hammernews.com/columbia.htm <br />--it was reported and promptly forgot that the Columbia sat on the launch pad for some 6 weeks, 4 times longer than normal, and Florida had the wettest Dec in 50 years (I think), so by launch time the tank insulation was perhaps saturated with water (or damaged by the impacts). Once loaded with -423F degree liquid hydrogen, that would freeze, making that 2.6 lb. piece of foam that they keep talking about, over 100 lbs and moving at 750 mph. A fan of shattered debris bigger than the shuttle itself was obviously life-threatening. NASA knew that the shuttle was grievously injured and did nothing about it, because they cravenly decided there were no options (including success). <br /><br />Now it seems NASA itself (or someone higher) is angling for dumping the shuttle program, though there's nothing to replace it (unless they give Rutan $1-2 billion), and the naysayers are rejuvenated- a wimpy LATimes editorial calls for grounding the shuttle till the sun burns up and abandoning the space station. <br /><br />The shuttle program is beset with the same blanket paranoia that inf

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

Don’t please don’t feed the trolls SG <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br />This post has obvisiouly been created by someone here who hasn’t the balls to do so under their usual username, hence the disposable handle. I reckon the mods could blast it to where it belongs, as in my eyes its flame bait <img src="/images/icons/frown.gif" /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------- </p><p>Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?</p><p>Go here to see how: <strong>SDC Eye saver </strong>  </p> </div>

 

[mattblack]

mkham6 is a clown. That's one of the drawbacks of free speech and a fantastic forum such as this: occasionally there will be inflammatory and cruel nonsense spouted by mischevious individuals, occasionally mixed with half-truths.<br /><br />And certain members of the media are not helping. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p>One Percent of Federal Funding For Space: America <strong><em><u>CAN</u></em></strong> Afford it!!  LEO is a <strong><em>Prison</em></strong> -- It's time for a <em><strong>JAILBREAK</strong></em>!!</p> </div>

 

[shuttle_rtf]

Expect Paul "Hitman" Hill to be knocking down your door sometime soon. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Not going to comment on the post, as I try not to comment on BS - waste of typing ya know.

 

[georgeniebling]

gee, if Google says it is so ....<br /><br />they must be feeding from the BBC! ;-)<br /><br />

 

[ehs40]

its just bigbrain trying to piss us off again

 

[shuttle_rtf]

You replied to me, but hey..<br /><br />If you put "Dogs with pants" into Google, you get as many hits.<br /><br />Just cause there's more crap media around, doesn't make it right.

 

[shuttle_rtf]

And yes, I picked up a bargin pair of pants for my dog. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

[gavino]

HAHAHA, this is a hole loud of bull! NASA murdering people, this is so wrong. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><span style="font-style:italic" class="Apple-style-span">gavinovz</span></p><p> </p> </div>

 

[mkham6]

Wow, I expected some reaction to admittedly incendiary first line (which I modified, on reflection), but also something more intelligent. This is one very big NASA group, apparently, but it should be obvious that I'm a big space and NASA booster. First, if one thinks that the shuttle fleet wasn't "grounded", the word used in every broadcast, you're denying reality and everything else is suspect.<br /><br /> />"There were 2 space suits on Columbia as there are on all Shuttle missions"< <br /> for 6-8 people- isn't that INSANE? What if there was a meteor impact and catastrophic loss of pressure? There are only 2 suits NOW, after all that has happened? I've heard only 1 or 2 suits, I've heard that they weren't rated for EVA, I've heard they had no propulsion guns- whatever, it was never properly examined or publicized in the investigation because they were terrified of assigning blame. How can people go up in space on a large truck and not have space suits?????? How could any astronaut, confronted with that alarming video, not demand an EVA to inspect shuttle, if it was possible? <br /><br /> />"not exposed to rain"< By what, a cover on the top? Florida thunderstorms on the coast are fierce (I lived in Daytona Beach)- on a 200ft high structure they certainly drench it by blowing sideways. I acknowledge that the shuttle is obviously pretty waterproof and even the external tank (what I meant) not soakable like a sponge - but with enough rain and enough wind force, <b>water could have penetrated cell structure, or separated foam from intimate contact, or created layer of ice <i>underneath</i> the foam</b>. It was obvious from the distant video of the explosive impact and huge fan of debris that this was a terribly serious impact. It didn't look like a foam impact, but <b>ice would have created such a highly reflective field of tiny particles</b>.<br /><br /> />that is a lie< I saw a documentary and heard elsewhere that Columbia astronauts were not notified and/or weren't shown vide

 

[mattblack]

Uhhhh.... rolleyes <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p>One Percent of Federal Funding For Space: America <strong><em><u>CAN</u></em></strong> Afford it!!  LEO is a <strong><em>Prison</em></strong> -- It's time for a <em><strong>JAILBREAK</strong></em>!!</p> </div>

 

[ehs40]

uhhhhh....ok thats kinda hipacritical

 

[mattblack]

Why; because I didn't type up a 1500 word blog in reply? Notice that mkham has heavily edited his or her first post, the one that upset us so much.<br /><br /> />>Nasa murdering the Columbia crew<<<br /><br />That's a load of horsesh1t!!! I know a couple of folks who were working in Mission Control during STS-107. Free speech or no, do you think I'd stand by and let nonsense like that go unanswered?!!!<br /><br />As I'm typing this, I'm controlling myself because I'm bloody boiling mad. I realise we all need to chill out a bit and think before we speak. Words are like weapons, it's true. I'll watch mine if others have the courtesy to watch theirs.... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p>One Percent of Federal Funding For Space: America <strong><em><u>CAN</u></em></strong> Afford it!!  LEO is a <strong><em>Prison</em></strong> -- It's time for a <em><strong>JAILBREAK</strong></em>!!</p> </div>