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2005-07-26 Home Front: Tech

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Posted by Jackal 2005-07-26 17:41|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Discovery and seven astronauts blasted into orbit Tuesday on America's first manned space shot since the 2003 Columbia disaster, ending a painful, 2 1/2-year shutdown devoted to making the shuttle less risky and NASA more safety-conscious.

Later on in the piece, it says:
If the sensors had acted up before liftoff, the space agency had been prepared to bend its safety rules to get the shuttle flying.

Alllllllllrighty then....

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2005-07-26 19:40|| 2005-07-26 19:40|| Front Page Top

#2 So fix your little problem and lite the fuse on this *********

Posted by Icy Commander 2005-07-26 19:52|| 2005-07-26 19:52|| Front Page Top

#3 No amount of money could get me on that ancient wreck. Built and maintained by the lowest bidder. Supported and modified by hell's own bureaucrats....

NO WAY!

Now something simple and sensible like SpaceShip one.... yes.

Posted by 3dc 2005-07-26 19:54|| 2005-07-26 19:54|| Front Page Top

#4 And if the NASA program manager is told there are tiles that have been lost, what do they choose to do? stay in orbit forever?

Posted by Kalle (kafir forever) 2005-07-26 19:55|| 2005-07-26 19:55|| Front Page Top

#5 Kalle-
My understanding is that if for some reason Discovery couldnt make it back, she will remain docked to the ISS, and the Russians will boost up two Soyuz to bring everybody back. Unfortunately, that would be the end of the shuttle program and most likely the ISS as well. The reason Columbia couldn't do that - even if they had known - was that as the oldest shuttle, she was heavier than her sisters by quite some distance and was physically unable to reach the ISS. Endeavour, Atlantis and Discovery are much lighter and can reach ISS without any problems.

Mike

Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2005-07-26 20:22|| 2005-07-26 20:22|| Front Page Top

#6 Did it seem to anyone else that there might be an unstated Dire Emergencyâ¢ on the ISS driving the necessity of launching now? Sheesh

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2005-07-26 20:27|| 2005-07-26 20:27|| Front Page Top

#7 The ISS is an Unstated Dire Emergencyâ¢. The ISS and NASA have lost their way and do not have a clear vision of what their mission is.

We should be testing out the prototypes of the replacement of the Shuttle now. But due to lack of vision at the top of government, we are playing with tired technology. One does not pull major concepts and equipment out of one's a$$. This is a continuing process, and the US is has fallen behind in all this. Hell, look at our public infrastructure: roads, bridges, public buildings. We have spent Billions and Billionsâ¢ on feel-good stuff and have neglected the basic, boring, non-glamourous stuff for decades. Comes down to lack of leadership and vision.

Posted by Alaska Paul">Alaska Paul 2005-07-26 21:29|| 2005-07-26 21:29|| Front Page Top