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Space Shuttle to be Outfitted with New Sensors
Norman at Davis writes "Space.com is reporting on new "sensors designed to pinpoint potential damage from falling debris or other objects [which] will be installed into the wings of NASA's remaining shuttle fleet...." Unfortunately, the sensors won't be too sophisticated, MSNBC reports that 'the extent of damage would still have to be determined by an inspection by astronauts in orbit, using an extension boom equipped with cameras and lasers.' Apparently NASA is in the process of developing three techniques which will allow astronauts to spacewalk and repair holes up to fourteen inches in diameter. Finally... the Australian Broadcasting Corporation is also running an article on the topic, stating that "not only will computers provide state-of-the-art imaging, but Defence Department satellites will supplement inspections made by the shuttle astronauts themselves and photographs taken from the International Space Station." 'NASA's efforts to improve its ability to detect whether the shuttle has been struck during flight have evolved remarkably since Columbia's January launch, when engineers watched loops of film sent to Miami for development and projected against a wall by a noisy old projector.' Hopefully this new technology will prevent another Columbia-like disaster, as a space shuttle replacement is looking less likely by the day."
we went to the moon *cough*
Is it so difficult to RTFA?
What about new phased plamsa inducers?! I WAS PROMISED NEW PHASED PLASMA INDUCERS? Someone get Wheaton over here :)
14"? Then they should do us all a favour and patch goatse.cx guy.
Trolling is a art,
You can tell its Friday and that there's a carpenter sawing the ceiling off just outside my office. I misread that as "Space Shuttle to be Outfitted with New Stereo".
Now I can finally get a spaceship with fricken' lasers!
10. "Now we can see if Lance Bass is on his way a lot earlier, so we can shut off the lights and make it look like no one is home"
9. Cerebro mode to make Professor X feel welcome.
8. To prove WMD's on Mars in advance of invasion
7. Now they can finally find out if that is a Class-M planet down there.
6. New Stroboscopic Polarizing System now makes the Mushroom Planet visible at last.
5. Sensors? I thought you said "Censors". Drats! There are too many astronauts watching Hentai aboard this thing.
4. To find out if that is Val Kilmer's robot dog scratching at the outside walls, or just space junk.
3. "A cloaked SCO battlecruiser, of the Penguinkiller class, off the starboard bow!"
2. So we, for one, can see and welcome our new alien ant overlords before anyone else.
1. Lazy fat American Astronauts can now sit in ship and see everything outside, no need for spacewalk.
Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
The reduced crew of the shuttle would make an ejection seat a viable option.
"Press the big red button to eject.
Warning: no air outside, and it's a loooong fall"
Don't waste your vote! Vote for whoever you want, unless you live in a swing state it won't matter anyways
holy shit, someone stole my horse! I'm gonna go lock that barn door RIGHT NOW!
> deep-space mission, like Apollo.
;-D
It's all relative, ain't it.
That really cracked me up. deep-space, indeed
I suppose when the majority of the spaceflight is a few miles above the earth, going to the moon seems like deep-space.
somehow, deep-space implies inter-stellar distances, in my mind
I just want to know when shuttledamagecam.com will be open?! ;D
As long as they pronounce "sensor" as in "sen-sors indicate Kling-on wessel, captain", I'm in perfect agreement.
But only if.
-- clvrmnky
Pre-descent Checklist
Item 87: Make sure nothing fell off during ascent.
Hmmm.