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Commission Says NASA Failed on Shuttle Safety

Posted by timothy on from the spaceflight-so-far-not-perfectly-safe dept.

Tsalg writes "The final report from the Stafford-Covey Commission concludes that out of the 15 recommendations they made, the 3 toughest technically are not met. The news was not official on the return-to-flight website but has been widely commented elsewhere. Says one of the task members: "It is NASA's job -- not the task force's -- to determine whether the risks are acceptable and whether it's safe for Discovery to fly." The commission said risk remained that pieces of foam and ice could break off and hit the shuttle at lift-off. It also said the orbiter had not been sufficiently hardened and it lacked an in-flight repair system.Nasa has been aiming to launch shuttle Discovery as early as 13 July."

4 of 232 comments (clear)

  1. Different Approach by werewolf1031 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Is it me, or is all of this making a great case for developing transporter technology...?

    Heisenburg won't mind...

  2. I'll never... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    "...pieces of foam and ice could break off and hit the shuttle at lift-off."

    ...look at soft drinks and cappuccino in the same light again. They could actually be very dangerous!

  3. Re:Similar to Disaster Recovery by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    You: In case of global emergencies we now have an off-planet backup site, and an agreement with NASA to shuttle us out there"
    Auditor: But what happens if a piece of ice or foam breaks off and hits the shuttle..?

  4. Re:Similar to Disaster Recovery by Alioth · · Score: 3, Funny

    Auditor: Yeah, but what if an EMP takes out the city?
    Me: Well, then the tapes will survive. And if they don't I'll be too busy dying myself from the effects of the nuclear explosion to care!

    --
    Oolite: Elite-like game. For Mac, Linux and Windows