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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?"
A NASA spokesperson was quoted as saying "NO ONE SET US UP THE BOMB."
America's engineers are the best and brightest in the world, and they wouldn't fuck something like this up. It was obviously those fundamentalist islamic raghead terrorists again. This only goes to show that we will not be safe until Iraq, and indeed the entire Middle East, is reduced to rubble.
Nah, you have to be retarded to want to promote yourself as an american. That means you're fat, lazy, stupid, and rude. No doubt she never mentioned the shameful fact that she was an american citizen. I know I wouldn't in her position.
...and concentrate on spending our money on trying to cure cancer and important shit like that. Oh BTW, the /. editors are clearly corporate lackeys. It shows when they refuse to give anything but token coverage to important nerd-related issues ilke H1B, outsourcing, and DMCA. Yeah, remember I said "token."
Has anybody explained why they couldn't have done a spacewalk to inspect the damage from the insulation strike? All I've heard is that it wouldn't have made any difference if they had done one, since they weren't equipped to repair it. I just don't buy the assertion that they wouldn't have had any options if they had discovered the damage. Once they knew of the problem, they could have worked out some sort of rescue plan, perhaps getting them out to the ISS, where they could have stayed until Endeavor could have been launched to go pick them up. Columbia could have been left at the ISS until a later mission could go out to repair it. In the words of our fearless leader, I still think they "misunderestimated" the situation.
Where is this coming from and why did this get moderated so informative? I have seen nothing on the news or anywhere else to suggest that NASA has a good idea what happened. Links anyone?
Call me a loony but I think that this whole space shuttle program is a big fraud. There is no doubt in my mind that somewhere our "Government" has more advanced technology hidden for whatever reason. How much longer are they going to try to fool us with this obsolete garbage.
It's going to be quicker this time I think.
Computer modeling is *much* more advanced as is our understanding of hypersonic dynamics and materials science.
In 86-87 there was a Democratic House and Congress and the Democrats have a history of dragging thier feet on space*.
As soon as we know what happened it will be a little easier to figure out a work around, model it, then scale test and finally implement it.
Unlike '86 when Shuttle was powered up and there were more variables, this time may be easier.
This article suggests a wat that the Columbia incident might be terrorism and the website backs it up with hard to dissect science. Big science doesn't even claim to have all the answers, yet seems to constantly get stuck in a rut of not accepting or examining differing ideas. Does anyone have any good sites that prove this guy wrong? This website seems more interested in the social stigma involved with association with this guy than proving him wrong. What was that quote again about new ideas not becoming mainstream because of winning people over, but because their opponents died off?
The sad thing is, when the investigation is over it will turn out to be a stupid decision by a NASA chief, just like Challenger. If there was left wing damage, park it at the space station until another can go uo to take parts for repair or just to pick up the crew. It shouldn't be that big of a deal. Of course NASA group think won't allow planning for intelligent alternatives to catastrophy. Now they get the budget boost to fix things. Hell of a way to do business.
Professional Politicians are not the solution, they ARE the problem.
Well, thanks, FBI. You just get in there and make a reference to terrorism every chance you get, and we'll fall in line like sheep.
Jesus Christ, this is a tragedy, not a political stunt for you and your cronies.
fifth sigma, inc.
I for one am glad that you can look past such a great tragedy for the sake of being the first to preduct something.
--
the strongest word is still the word "free"
And less than 2% out of the total number of launches. And?
And if there were to be an accidental exchange of nuclear weapons between Russia and the United States I suppose you would claim in response that we've enjoyed nearly 20,000 incident-free days, is that right?
Is this truly the only Earth I can live on?
Yep, all dem white folks from England, France and Germany. That's the composition of modern day America, decendants of the sons of the revolution. Wake the fuck up.
She was a hottie, too. What a loss for all mankind...
Let it go, they died, end of story. Shit happens, man. Life goes on, nothing to see here.
So now you post your solution to the problem even though you clearly don't have a clue about how the shuttle works. Hell of a way to do Slashdot.
New here, eh? Ah, with a four digit ID, I guess not. Maybe just a slow learner.
How desperate are you for hits? Just link to the damn animation
When the hell are we going to retire the damned shuttle? Please stop these expensive publicity stunts NASA, we know sending Isrealis to space has nothing to do with science and so do you.
In fact, please retire NASA. Seriously.
>80 column hard wrapped e-mail is not a sign of intelligent
>life