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Wing Seals Blamed in Columbia's Demise

Posted by michael on from the yellow-and-blue-make-green dept.

MoonFacedAssassin writes "MSNBC has this article stating that a 'seal from Columbia's left wing was apparently the mystery object that floated away in orbit, and it was almost certainly struck by something - like a chunk of foam - before it came off, accident investigators said Tuesday.' The article also quoted Navy Rear Admiral Stephen Turcotte, a CAIB member, as having a confidence level 'up there near the 70s and 80s percent' about the T-seal."

21 of 252 comments (clear)

  1. It was our mistake? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Well, I guess I have no right to be upset anymore now that we know the real reason. I'll have to cancel my shipment of shotguns to fend off the alien invaders.

  2. Amazing... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    These shuttle disasters keep proving how important seals are in our lives, no matter how mundane or simple they appear to be.

    The widespread practice of clubbing them, especially the baby ones, has got to stop.

    1. Re:Amazing... by GigsVT · · Score: 4, Funny

      Don't worry, the recently passed RAVE act will put an end to all clubbing.

      --
      I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.
  3. Seals, eh? by MrFredBloggs · · Score: 1, Funny

    That'll give those tree-hugging hippies something to think about. Maybe we oughta kill all the whales too, just to be safe?

  4. A flying seal!? by 91degrees · · Score: 2, Funny

    What was it doing up there? Shouldn't it be in the arctic headbutting clubs or something like that?

  5. I read... by crevette · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... Winged Seals responsible for Columbia's desmise.

    You know, with all the flying pigs we've seen lately...

    1. Re:I read... by ackthpt · · Score: 4, Funny
      ... Winged Seals responsible for Columbia's desmise.

      You know, with all the flying pigs we've seen lately...

      and all the cow manure out of Washington lately, but that's beside the point. O-Rings, now T-Seals. There's an alphabetic trend here. I wonder if it was C-Foam.

      Ever get the idea these things are built like models?

      "Insert Seal (T) in Wing Assembly (A)"

      --

      A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  6. Confidence Level by therecaller · · Score: 5, Funny

    So, if it's not 100%, they just give it another arbitrary number to feed to the media?

  7. That's the Bush Administration for you... by Interrobang · · Score: 3, Funny

    They always use the media to blame everything on the left wing!!

    /me ducks and exeunt chortling

    --
    I'm not a geek, I'm just a clever script.
  8. A chunk of foam?! by gpinzone · · Score: 3, Funny

    They really gotta start building these shuttles a lot stronger. I mean, even the wimpiest kid doesn't flinch from getting hit in the head with a nerf ball.

    1. Re:A chunk of foam?! by AKnightCowboy · · Score: 2, Funny
      I used to intern at the place that makes the external tanks and had a chunk of the foam at my desk.

      See? That shit is falling off left and right. Maybe they should find some better material.

  9. next problem by ih8apple · · Score: 4, Funny

    First it was the O-Ring in 1985
    Then it was the T-Seal in 2003


    Logically, the next problem will be with the Y-Tube in 2011.
    Science and Logic Prevail!

    --


    Why do I h8 apple?
    1. Re:next problem by ih8apple · · Score: 2, Funny

      ...except for the fact that I can't do Math....
      that should be 2021

      --


      Why do I h8 apple?
  10. You mean there are seals that live on... by kahei · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...oh, wait, I just realized that every other bored person on the entire face of the planet must be making the same joke.

    --
    Whence? Hence. Whither? Thither.
  11. transfer of kinetic energy by lazira · · Score: 4, Funny
    It had to be the result of some blunt-force trauma, the transfer of kinetic energy, somehow
    I gotta remember that term. Like: "how about I transfer you some kinetic energy" or "Ouch! That transfer of kinetic energy was uncalled-for."
  12. Don't you mean... by BlackGriffen · · Score: 2, Funny

    The U-Vent?

    Then they can finally move on to the X-Window, and finally the Y-Zipper!

    BlackGriffen

  13. When I read this title by dlakelan · · Score: 3, Funny

    The title of the story made me think:

    Seals? With wings?

    Time to take that bong away from the aerospace engineers.

    --
    ((lambda (x) (x x)) (lambda (x) (x x))) http://www.endpointcomputing.com a scientific approach to custom computing.
  14. In poor taste... by Yoda2 · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...Then the mechanic said, "Looks like you blew a seal." "No, no", the Eskimo replied, "that's just mayonnaise!"

  15. Re:Support for Space by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Yo... latest polls show that 86% of Amercans feel the human risk is worth continuting Space exploration

    And 99.9% of Americans agree as long as the life being risked is not theirs

  16. Re:Foam is really dangerous? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    On the other hand, the depleted uranium slug fired from an M1A1 Abrams bounced harmlessly off your neutronium-density skull.

    The foam is closer in density to styrofoam like in a bicycle helmet, and came off the tank at 300mph relative to the shuttle's wing. I'd love to see you taking a bicycle helmet in the face at 300mph. Or a Nerf football for that matter. Or best yet, the M1A1 tank round.

  17. Looking through the top postings I wonder.... by ihatewinXP · · Score: 3, Funny

    At a quick glance I see six top level postings as +5 Funny.

    I wonder how many funny comments you can squeeze out of a space shuttle blowing up? And maybe who should I be more ashamed of, the people posting or the people moderating them all up?

    --
    ---- The real Slashdot is still here. You just have to browse at -1 to read the comments.