STS-114 Post-mission discussion thread.

[najab]

Discovery and her crew are safely back on the ground after perfectly executed precision landing by Commander Eileen Collins.<br /><br />This thread is for the post-mission quarterbacking (or should that be post-mission flight controllering?).<br />

 

[Leovinus]

I'm anxious to see that torn fabric under the driver's side window. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[sofaking]

I think the officials at NASA should be put on trial for murder. At the very least, the world should bring a wrongful death class-action suit against NASA. This mission proved beyond any doubt that WE HAVE the technology and experience to make external repairs to the shuttle.<br />We have overhauled the HST, assembled ISS, and serviced/deployed numerous satalites since the shuttle program started.<br />Now we are supposed to believe that the latest mission and the repair made during a spacewalk was "unprecidented", "historical", "amazing", ...etc...<br />I say BS.<br />NASA knowingly sent our astronauts to there doom even though we could have very easily inspected and attempted to repair the foam damage to the leading edge of the wing in orbit.<br />NASA is full of criminals and I hope someday they see justice.<br />What a sad display of cover-ups, lying, deception, and arrogance.<br />I will not support NASA in any way until the government releases NASA to private industry. Until then the shuttle will remain an antiquated death machine.

 

[Leovinus]

"Murder" implies intent to kill. Name someone in NASA that intended for anyone to die. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[nacnud]

Nice troll.<br /><br />Why would private industry be more open.<br /><br />How could the damage have been repaired.<br /><br />Can you express your views without insulting people...

 

[cdr6]

It proved to be a good mission for all (with the exception of maybe the whiners and bashers). The astronauts have proven that one can work on the orbiter in space with out destroying the machine. This flys in the face of some of the astronauts (Musgrave, et al ) who decry working in space as "man's presence being a hazard" to the machinery. <br /><br />Sending pilots and scientists to do a mechanics job is not really a good idea...it takes patience, understanding, and craftsmanship to be a good "wrench".<br /><br />It will be interesting to see how the rest of the mission data reduces, and of course how the foam issue works out...

 

[najab]

><i>The ".....if necessary..." is interesting.</i><p>Very much so. I wonder where the phrase originated - Mike's office? Your boss's?</p>

 

[drwayne]

It continues to amaze me how people with no genuine understanding of an issue feel free to make such comments, which, in their very content show their very lack of understanding.<br /><br />Wayne<br /><br />p.s. Why do I suspect this is an alt, created for the sole pupose of troll posts. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[sofaking]

What insult?<br />Troll? That's name calling, who's insulting who?<br />Your obviously a NASA betty, so I can't possibly expect you to have an objective, realistic point of view.<br />Next time you see a troll, consider the mirror your looking into.

 

[Leovinus]

I'm banning you for that name. Pick another one. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[kauboi]

Well you can always talk about what went wrong after it happened, it's a shame it isn't always foreseeable. I really think the guys at NASA are trying their best with what they have. I also think the Shuttle should be put on a museum and move on but that is something that would eventually happen. I don't see how any astronaut would risk their life on that thing if he/she didn't think it is safe and trustfuly enough, and I bet those astronauts know more than a guy that, from what I can guess, loves to spend time on the sofa more than trying to do something to get us farther into space.

 

[frodo1008]

Can we possibly ban these kinds of people so they CAN'T ever plague us again? Most of us who are NASA supporters are perfectly willing to also support all the great private industry efforts also, sometimes however it just doesn't seem to go the other way at all!<br /><br />However, there ARE lots of great posters on these boards who support ANY efforts to get humanity into space. Heck, as I have said before if somebody can find a way to use a large rubber band I would be perfectly happy myself! However, sometimes SDC seems to attract Trolls (children with computer access, and nothing else to do with their lives?) who just do anything destructive of good reasonable debate that they can! I would hope that there would be some kind of giant internet vacuum cleaner that the mods could wield that would permanently place these types in some kind of trash barrel limbo. Am I hoping too much here?<br />

 

[Leovinus]

This forum is here to discuss (among other things) NASA missions. If someone disagrees with how NASA operates, how is that a banning offense? Please take your question to "Suggestions" in a new thread. This thread is for discussing 114. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[drwayne]

There was someone who was asking questions during the course of the flight - that seemed to not realize, no matter how many times they were told, that Columbia did not have its arm installed for its last flight.<br /><br />For when SK returns with a new name, consider this:<br /><br />(1) Because there was no arm, there was no way to work on the exterior in a secure way. <br /><br />(2) There were no materials available for a patch to the RCC. To date there is still no way to patch damage to the leading edge RCC panels - the damage that Columbia suffered. <br /><br />So trying to extrapolate from what was done with Discovery to Columbia is erroneous.<br /><br />The only argument that can be made is that NASA should have employed more of the more limited means that it had available to look at the shuttle. It is possible, though by no means certain that spy assets might have seen something.<br /><br />If they had though, fixing Columbia, even now, would be a non-starter. The only scenario for saving the astonauts would have been a rescue mission. Keep in mind this has a lot of its own risks, including prepping a shuttle in record time, and hoping that whatever happened to Columbia doesn't happen to the next one.<br /><br />Wayne<br /><br />p.s. I know this is a mistake. Folks like this almost always dismiss something that disagrees with their thinking as covering for NASA. Oh yeah, and its way off topic. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[drwayne]

On the plus side, there is unprecendented before and after data that can be used to increase understanding, and do validation of models. I can see a lot of good work (and a lot of papers, theses and disserations) coming from that alone.<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[giofx]

They are movin' Discovery into the hangar for post-landing processing and preparing for the trip onboard SCA to the KSC late next week.<br /><br />http://www.nasa.gov/ram/35037main_portal.ram

 

[larper]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>I'm banning you for that name. Pick another one. <p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br />Now, why in the world would you ban that name. Sounds like you are abusing your admin powers. He might be a idiot, but the name is not offensive. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong><font color="#ff0000">Vote </font><font color="#3366ff">Libertarian</font></strong></p> </div>

 

[nacnud]

Maybe if you split it differently, So Faking or So F'ing, I think SofaKing is OK though.<br />

 

[Leovinus]

I'll also ban Heywood Jablowme if he ever shows up. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[larper]

Doesn't explain why you would ban SofaKing based on his name. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong><font color="#ff0000">Vote </font><font color="#3366ff">Libertarian</font></strong></p> </div>

 

[giofx]

Crew Post Landing Press Conference now underway at Dryden Flight Research Center

 

[tap_sa]

<font color="yellow">"They are movin' Discovery into the hangar"</font><br /><br />The towed Orbiter was followed by two pretty large and rather strange-looking vehicles. One had thinner white cables running to the orbiter and the other had three large darker 'tubes' connected to the engine area in the back. I wonder what those are for? One for electrical power and such I guess but the other with large tubes, some sort of airconditioning?

 

[Leovinus]

<i>Spacecraft recovery operations at the nominal end-of-mission landing site are supported by approximately 160 space shuttle Launch Operations team members. Ground team members wearing self-contained atmospheric protective ensemble suits that protect them from toxic chemicals approach the spacecraft as soon as it stops rolling. The ground team members take sensor measurements to ensure the atmosphere in the vicinity of the spacecraft is not explosive. In the event of propellant leaks, a wind machine truck carrying a large fan will be moved into the area to create a turbulent airflow that will break up gas concentrations and reduce the potential for an explosion.<br /><br />A ground support equipment air-conditioning purge unit is attached to the right-hand orbiter T-0 umbilical so cool air can be directed through the orbiter's aft fuselage, payload bay, forward fuselage, wings, vertical stabilizer, and orbital maneuvering system/reaction control system pods to dissipate the heat of entry.<br /><br />A second ground support equipment ground cooling unit is connected to the left-hand orbiter T-0 umbilical spacecraft Freon coolant loops to provide cooling for the flight crew and avionics during the postlanding and system checks. The spacecraft fuel cells remain powered up at this time. The flight crew will then exit the spacecraft, and a ground crew will power down the spacecraft. </i><br /><br />link <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[john_316]

<br />I knew all along it was gonna ok...<br /><br />the landing was just gonna be ok....<br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br />

 

[emerrill]

"I was dropped from the "B" team. I will remain in Florida."<br /><br />At least now you can play with your new UL toy. *notes: you suck <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> *<br /><br />-eric <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>