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Columbia Accident Board Preliminary Recommendations

Posted by michael on from the picking-up-the-pieces dept.

fwc writes "The Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) has released some preliminary recommendations to NASA - To do a better job at inspecting the leading edge of the shuttle's wings, and also to ensure that pictures of the orbiter are taken while in orbit. More recommendations are to follow in the full report which is expected in June. More detailed information on the recommendations are at space.com and spaceflightnow.com. NASA Administrator O'Keefe seems optimistic that they will be able to return the shuttle fleet to flight by the end of the year since there has been no show-stopping problems which have been discovered during the investigation."

10 of 170 comments (clear)

  1. Wait a sec... by iworm · · Score: 2, Funny

    "there has been no show-stopping problems which have been discovered during the investigation."

    Well no, other than the strong suspicion that a chunk of the craft can fall off during lift-off and fatally damage the vehicle...

  2. Show stoppers? by Codex+The+Sloth · · Score: 3, Funny

    NASA Administrator O'Keefe seems optimistic that they will be able to return the shuttle fleet to flight by the end of the year since there has been no show-stopping problems which have been discovered during the investigation."

    So a 1-in-50 catastrophic failure rate is not considered a show stopper? At this rate, we'll be out of shuttles in another 150 flights. Would you use software that crashed 1-in-50 times? The shuttle is the "Internet Explorer" of space vehicles...

    --
    I am not a number! I am a man! And don't you ... oh wait, I'm #93427. Ha ha! In your face #93428!
    1. Re:Show stoppers? by ackthpt · · Score: 5, Funny
      So a 1-in-50 catastrophic failure rate is not considered a show stopper? At this rate, we'll be out of shuttles in another 150 flights. Would you use software that crashed 1-in-50 times? The shuttle is the "Internet Explorer" of space vehicles...

      Ooooo. You don't like shuttles, do you? I'd say, if NASA were run by Microsoft they'd recommend setting the clock back and trying again...

      "Well, there goes the shuttle Explorer 2003 SP1, up in flames. Condolences will be sent to loved ones, and flights will continue while they work on SP2. Meanwhile, in other news, Microsoft lobbyists have renewed pressure on Congress to black out any public notification of these shuttle disasters."

      --

      A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  3. Re:If you need a space-monkey... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    And also you want your name to be spread far and wide ...just like your ashes....

  4. Not very encouraging... by TopShelf · · Score: 4, Funny
    So they'll do more thorough inspections before reentry - but they still haven't addressed the issue of what to do if they actually find something wrong. As I understand it, there is no capacity to perform such repair work while in orbit.

    So again, what do they do if they find a problem? Just upload an MP3 of "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun"???

    --
    Stop by my site where I write about ERP systems & more
  5. Are you listening Carmack? by stratjakt · · Score: 4, Funny

    Space is some scary, dangerous shit. You dont want anything to do with it, trust me.

    Finish Doom 3 please.

    --
    I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
  6. Executive summary by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny
    Here are the findings in a nutshell:
    Shit happens. Get over it.
  7. Re:Band-aid by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    is and anomoly during lunch like what? the soup was cold?

  8. Re:Interesting thought: Build new shuttles! by HarveyBirdman · · Score: 2, Funny
    Face it, they're rocketting around in technology that's 25+ years old. It's time to redesign from the ground up.

    So glad you're on top of things, there, Tom Corbett! What would we do without your deep insight?

    The U.S. just paid 75 billion on a war in Iraq, most of which was wasted money.

    Well, no, 20 billion is the current price tag. Try reading beyond the headlines. You will learn many interesting things and begin to avoid superficial analyses.

    I mean the fuel bill alone to send an aircraft carrier to the Gulf would set me for life.

    Maybe, but that's assuming your life is worth setting. :-P

    Maybe they don't spend more money on Nasa is because in space there's nobody to kill.

    Too bad, because no one could hear them screm. Wow, what a great, um, amazing, er... yeah. Whatever.

    Good Lord, I'm in a crappy mood for a Friday! Don't take any of this personally Angry White Guy.

    --
    --- Ban humanity.
  9. The _REAL_ reason behind columbia's crash by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    the REAL reason