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Crack Found in Shuttle Tank

Posted by samzenpus on from the what-could-happen dept.

hpulley writes "The shuttle's new fuel tank, supposedly redesigned to be safer, has a crack in it. Pictures were sent to the manufacturer who decided that it is too small to be worrisome. Hmm, what caused the Columbia disaster, pieces of foam? Meanwhile, there will be a second shuttle on standby, just in case the first one has problems after being hit by foam, etc. If the first shuttle has a design flaw, what's to say the second one isn't afflicted by the same problem? Won't there be a good chance of them stranding the rescue crew in addition to the original crew? If an aircraft crashes and the redesign to fix it crashes, would you send another of the same type to rescue it? Of course not! The ISS is going to be a smelly, scary place with the regular complement and two shuttle crews onboard and no way home but a Russian Soyuz capsule that isn't slated to launch again until September and has seats for just three..."

11 of 703 comments (clear)

  1. Crack? by Calmiche · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Okay, did anyone else read that article description as someone trying to smuggle drugs inside the space shuttle or is it is just me?

  2. No doubt by soloport · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Agreed. But why smuggle crack in the tank?

  3. Re: Crack found in Shuttle tank by po8 · · Score: 1, Redundant

    I don't get it. Who would the astronauts be smuggling it to? The ISS? At any rate, hiding it in a fuel tank isn't very original---no wonder they got caught. There was no mention of the size of the bust in the /. summary. I guess I could read the article, but why bother? I'll bet you can fit a lot of crack into a Shuttle tank, though!

  4. Re:Someone who has mod points... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Redundant

    MOD REDUNDANT EVERYTHING ABOUT COCAINE! Oh, except for the first post about it, that was relevant and important.

    As you wish.

  5. Re:Why? by gstoddart · · Score: 0, Redundant
    STS was originally conceived in the 60s

    Well, so was the Boeing 747
    So why, WHY are we launching people into space with a program older than I am?

    Because not all technology can be completely re-invented on a 5 year cycle? Hell, from the sound of it, that's exactly what we're seeing.
    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  6. Cops found Crack under my seat by badford · · Score: 0, Redundant

    but it wasn't mine, I swear!

    --
    -badford
  7. Crack Found in Shuttle Tank??? by hesiod · · Score: 0, Redundant

    OMG, Crack was found in the shuttle tank??? No wonder Columbia exploded... All the engineers were so high they even left their drugs onboard.

  8. In Other News... by nocaster · · Score: 0, Redundant

    In addition to the crack found in the fuel tank, 40 oz. of marijuana were found inside one of the shuttles SRB's...

  9. Call the DEA by n0tWorthy · · Score: 0, Redundant

    There's crack in the tank. We're exporting the drug epedemic into space!

    --
    "Be kind, for everyone you meet is facing a great battle." - Philo of Alexandria -
  10. Crack found in shuttle tank... by Fulcrum+of+Evil · · Score: 0, Redundant

    DEA impounds shuttle, charges crew.

    --
    "We returned the General to El Salvador, or maybe Guatemala, it's difficult to tell from 10,000 feet"
  11. As if NASA didn't have enough problems. by Cow007 · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Now they are trying to smuggle drugs into outer space? Crack smoking aliens don't sound to friendly. Its official, the end is near.

    --
    411 Y0UR 8453 4R3 8310NG 70 U5!! -NSA