Slashdot Mirror


Debris is Shuttle's Biggest Threat

Masq666 writes "Tiny rocks, paint flecks and other fragments of junk whizzing around the Earth pose the greatest threat to the shuttles and the astronauts on board, according to the preliminary results of a new NASA risk study. Even coin sized fragments can cause great damage to a shuttle, and the damage can be lethal, if it hits the windows or the heat shield."

20 of 229 comments (clear)

  1. Beware... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    That kid with the slingshot!

  2. Better to burn out than to fade away by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 4, Funny

    That debris layer is our ablative "alien shield" defense system. Bring 'em on!

    --

    --
    make install -not war

    1. Re:Better to burn out than to fade away by dingo · · Score: 3, Funny

      ...and if for some reason we want to launch more shuttles, we just have to piss off an alien race enough to invade. After all their ships have been cleaned up by debris, we will have a clear sky again.

      --
      The Borg assimilated my race & all I got was this lousy T-shirt
  3. Easy Solution by ravenspear · · Score: 5, Funny

    Why don't they just raise the shields?

  4. Sounds like a job for... by eln · · Score: 4, Funny
  5. In other news... by TimeTraveler1884 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Mission "Space-Dump", to dispose of excess rocks, paint, coins and the homeless, has been a sucess.

  6. Space Pee by Tezkah · · Score: 3, Funny

    I read somewhere that since they eject (or did at some point) their bodily wastes from the space station, everything that returns from orbit is now covered in a thin coat of urine.

    Anyone know if this is true/false? Google doesn't show anything.

    If true, I guess that changes the meaning of "whizzing around the Earth"

    1. Re:Space Pee by grazzy · · Score: 4, Funny

      Thats why your mother told you to not lick on spacerocks.

  7. Re:Slow news day? by Anonymous+Writer · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'd think that the lack of air in space was the greatest threat

  8. Re:Slow news day? by Bill+Wong · · Score: 2, Funny

    Solution? Three words. Point Defense Lasers. :)

  9. beh! by Viceice · · Score: 3, Funny

    Funny... I would have thought the shuttle's biggest threat would be the current administration.

    Afterall, you won't need to worry about FOD if you have to worry about getting off the ground in the first palce.

    --
    Sometimes I wish I was a plumber, then I'd know how to deal with other people's shit.
  10. Shuttle's biggest threat by Hognoxious · · Score: 2, Funny

    Shurely Shuttle's biggest threat is the mac-mini?

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  11. New Shuttle Design by jchap · · Score: 2, Funny


    The shuttle needs some serious design revisions and these latest findings only serve to underline this. I think the following changes are required:

    a) Separate the rear propulsion units from the main vehicle and keep them as far apart as possible.

    b) Increase the area of the heat shield, while allowing for a narrow profile in orbit (using, say, a large saucer shape).

    c) Fit a big deflector shield to the front of the main drive section.

    d) Install maintenance tunnels throughout the ship (all of which can be based on exactly the same design)

    e) Give the captain a bigger, more comfortable, chair and tell him to lighten up with his crewmen at the end of each encounter.

  12. Threats by northcat · · Score: 4, Funny

    Debris is Shuttle's Biggest Threat

    No, gravity is the shuttle's biggest threat.

  13. OMFG by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I know. Right! Everyone knows that in The Next Generation, episode 132, the do not raise their sheild when entering earth's atmosphere. Idiots!

    (This was made-up for humor. Please do not respond with what really happened in episode 132, or if they ever did not raise their sheild when entering earth's atmoshere. Thank you)

    1. Re:OMFG by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
      OMFG!

      Everyone knows that Enterprise D can't safely enter a planet's atmosphere. It must remain in space at all times.

  14. Re:Slow news day? by HD+Webdev · · Score: 2, Funny

    Mounted on Sharks?

    That sounds Evil!

    --
    This is not a dream, not a dream...we are transmitting from the year 1-9-9-9.
  15. BSOD by Hmmble · · Score: 3, Funny
    "...the damage can be lethal, if it hits the windows"

    Resulting in a 'Blue screen of death'?

  16. Re:Didn't NASA cancel an obiting sponge project? by fr2asbury · · Score: 2, Funny

    There was a reason. The sponge in question became a bigger star on Nickelodian than anyone expected. Although the sponge, we'll call him "Bob" was more than enthusiastic to go, his agent wouldn't allow it.

  17. Hey, "Salvage One" was a great show! by ScrappyLaptop · · Score: 2, Funny
    1. Build a spaceship from a cement mixer

    2. Collect debris left on the moon

    3. Profit!!!

    (c'mon, it was what, 1979? Too young to know what I'm talking about? Here:

    http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Launchpad/9 782/salvage1.html