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107 Cameras to Scan Discovery for Damage
neutron_p writes "We already know that NASA has prepared for space shuttle rescue mission if a crisis arises during Discovery's return to flight. NASA wants to avoid any risk, that's why they also installed 107 cameras which will film and photograph the orbiter's first two minutes of ascent from every angle scanning for pieces of insulation foam or ice fall off during the launch and strike the shuttle, the kind of damage that doomed its predecessor Columbia. Cameras will be installed around the launch pad and at distances of 6 to 60 kilometers (some 3.5 to 35 miles) away, as well as on board of two airplanes and on the shuttle itself."
What are they gonna' do? Abort after it's 100' off the pad?
If it explodes, we'll have enough angles to recreate an exact 3d model of what happend. COOL. If it doesn't, we still have enough to create a nice 3d model of the launch. This will push the wave of new 3d tv's... hmm... getting ahead of myself again.
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Programming is like sex... Make one mistake and support it the rest of your life.
It's easy to say it's a good thing. Especially when it's not you that is having their privacy invaded. But, imagine if you were the shuttle. Would you really like being scrutinized by 10 cameras?
I guess the words "severly damaged" don't mean much of anything here?
Bullet time is a concept introduced in recent films and computer games whereby the passage of time is displayed as hyper slow or frozen moments in order to allow observe imperceptually fast events such as flying bullets.
In The Matrix, the camera path was pre-designed using computer-generated visualizations as a guide. Cameras were arranged on a track and aligned through a laser targeting system, forming a complex curve through space. The cameras were then triggered at extremely close intervals, so the action continued to unfold, in extreme slow-motion, while the viewpoint moved.
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullet-time
Yes, there is an ejection system, it's called a lot of rocket fuel.
that's why they also installed 107 cameras which will film and photograph...from every angle
Humanity is blessed to gain the technology advances pioneered by CBS's Big Brother.
Gee, I hope none of those cameras they've installed on the shuttle itself come loose and hit anything.
In theory, there's no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is.
It should allow scientists to detect the slightest crack in the shuttle's thermal protection, according to Bob Page, the official in charge of the imaging system.
Well, get ready because here comes MJ12, Daedalus, etc...
still I would have felt better if one of the state troopers had lent me his Glock for the trip.
I wouldn't.
> 6km is approx 3.7 miles not 3.5 and
:) :) :)
> 60km is 37 miles and not 35
What? You're full of crap! 6km is approx 3.728 miles, not 3.7, and 60km is 37.28 miles, not 37!
for the humor-impaired:
"NASA scientists have confirmed that last week's Discovery disaster was caused by a camera that came loose during takeoff and damaged the heat resistent tiles on one of the wings..."
D