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Updated Information On Columbia Shuttle Tragedy
Thanks to all the readers who have sent links related to today's shuttle disaster. An Associated Press story carried on Salon says that an independent board (with members from the Air Force, Navy, Transportation Department and other federal agencies) has been appointed to investigate the disaster. CNN is carrying official statement from President Bush. Rediff.com has an article on the life of Indian astronaut Kalpana Chawla. borisonanovitch points to "more info on the science aboard Columbia and links to other NASA research." fabel reminds us "Most of the media is focusing on the slight damage that ocurred at takeoff (that NASA discounted at the time) but STS-107 was *delayed* for 6 months (original launch date 19 Jul 2003) Update: 02/01 23:51 GMT by T : [Note, should read "2002."] because of
cracks in the propellant feed lines to the 3 main engines. A defect that could have caused catastrophic failure. Did the fix work or not?"
As far as I know, nobody speculates on anything they're sure about.
*ducks*
Note to M1-ers: a curt but otherwise insightful message is not "Flamebait" or "Troll".
"In other news [reuters.com], Iraqis welcomed the news as God's vengeance"
I wouldn't be so quick to say something like that with a massive American fleet off my coast.
I honestly hope these people end up suffering. Not only do they interfere with the investigation by removing debris, but they put other people's saftey at risk by transporting hazardous materials without the proper equipment. And to top it all off, they're violating EBAY's terms...
Those Jack Asses!
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Programming is like sex... Make one mistake and support it the rest of your life.
why YES i am going to burn in hell.
NASA is the primaray funder of the ISS, something like 90$ of all funds come from the US.
;-)
I think you mean '%', no?
"If he thinks he can hide and run from the United States and our allies, he's sorely mistaken." Bush on bin Laden
I'm glad that Reuters took the time to interview such influential and representative people such as a "government employee" and a car mechanic.
In other news, Canadians expressed their grief and shared sense of loss with Americans. "We are sad that it broke up, " Canada Post office clerk Angela Clark said. Vaccuum salesman Joe Smith noted that an Israeli was among the dead, but remarked "speaking for the nation, we don't have anything against Israel, really."
Sigh. The media never stops, even on an awful day like today.
Bitchslapped. Neat.
The public's right to be speedily informed shall not be impeded by a need for accuracy.
Still, the inevitable question for the history books is: Which Space Shuttle disaster looked cooler on television, the one in 1986 or Columbia's flameout?
The edge probably goes to the 1986 Challenger disaster because the close-ups were much crisper. You could practically imagine the horrific screams of unbridled terror from girl astronaut Dr. Sally Ride as she watched her space perm singe like a botched Martha Stewart recipe.
Today's Columbia astronauts were a bit less media savvy since they chose a location two miles above the country bumpkin state of Texas to exact their suicide. The images of their demise were barely photogenic. Instead, all we get are blurry jet trails that look like they were hastily formed by a skywriter who just downed five espressos.
How will America handle its collective Shuttle angst? Burger King will be asked to pull its "flame broiled" ads off the tube for a few days. And Cher will be instructed to cancel all her concerts since this diva's voice will remind anyone listening of the final shrieks an astronaut makes just before the after burner produces a new snack food: NASA Crisps.
Talk about Shuttle Diplomacy blowing up in Bush's face. This bird dropping occurs on a mission that includes a Jewish scientist from Israel. The Chosen People have more to fear from U.S. aeronautical lubricity than Yassar Arafat.
Before NASA scrubs all future missions, the agency needs to find a way to "turn the frown upside down" through a masterful stroke of public relations genius.
Our solution: Hire Neil Sedaka as official NASA spokesperson.
After all, his signature song is: "Breaking Up is Hard to Do."