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Wing Seals Blamed in Columbia's Demise

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."

6 of 252 comments (clear)

  1. Ridiculous by unterderbrucke · · Score: 0, Troll

    That T-seal was manufactured under the strictest of environments following guidelines!

    Or was it...

  2. Re:next problem by Henry+V+.009 · · Score: -1, Troll

    Wow, you're brillant. You can know a mathematical sequence from just two numbers. A regular fucking Rainman. Tell me, if you don't mind revealling your impressive secret, how you can rule out all other possible sequences so early on? I mean, you're a goddamn prodgidy. We need to put you on TV.

  3. Is it funny yet? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    So does anyone know any good Columbia jokes? (No recycled Challenger jokes, please)

  4. Re:Long Live the Shuttle ... now lets move on. by jimhill · · Score: -1, Troll

    "My graditude [sic] to everyone that has ever dared to travel to space. My thanks to those that have lost their lives in the endeavour."

    No one has died in the Endeavour. Only the Challenger and Columbia have killed their crews.

    Thank you! I'm here all week!

    --
    Learn to spell: nickel, missile, lose, solely, amendment, speech, kernel, probably, ridiculous, deity, hierarchy, versus
  5. Now by Cyno · · Score: 0, Troll

    If only we cared to know this level of detail about the 3000 deaths caused by the WTC and Pentagon attacks.

    It amazes me how shocked and horrified a nation of idiots gets over a handful of people who die while on an extremely dangerous mission. We all know the dangers of space exploration. Like the other posters are saying... get over it. We MUST explore. It is our nature.

    First let's figure out what is REALLY going on.

    Then let's make sure we stop thinking about money long enough to prevent anything like this ever happening again. Think humanitarian. Think locks on the doors of commercial airliners. Think wings that don't require seals that can fall off. Think!

    Fuk!

  6. Oh, look. An article worthy of comment. . . by Fantastic+Lad · · Score: -1, Troll
    You don't see too many of these anymore. Slashdot has shifted its editorial approach in the last few months. It's very rare to see any stories which are not hard-core geek/tech related. Somebody, somewhere made a decision, methinks. . .

    And this article is only worthy by default. Re, accidentally associated with something of real interest on the world stage, as opposed to yet another piece of consumerist/materialist distraction designed to keep the monkeys happy.

    The Shuttle was blasted by occupying alien forces because Bush was dragging his feet on the whole 'culling of the human race' thing. Think of it as a sort of, "We're not messing around here. Get your act in gear. You humans and your technology are nothing. Perhaps we won't spare your sorry butt if we decide you're not doing as you've been instructed. Now go kill all the Semites, release SARS, crash the economy and ripen up your world. When the shift comes, we want 5.5 billion of you dead, and the remaining bunch ready to wear collars. Now hop to it."

    Foam bouncing against the leading edge of a wing designed to withstand launch and re-entry forces? That's rich.

    Have a nice day.


    -Fantastic Lad