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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."

12 of 252 comments (clear)

  1. 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.
  2. 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
  3. 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?

  4. 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.
  5. 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.

  6. 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?
  7. 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.
  8. 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."
  9. 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.
  10. 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.