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Shuttle Discovery Lifts Off
An anonymous reader writes "CNN is reporting that the Space Shuttle Discovery has lifted off, marking the United States' returned to manned space flight for the first time since the Columbia disaster in February 2003"
Takeoffs are optional, landings are mandatory. Let's hope they have a successful mission and a safe return.
/. spaztech
or any landing where all seven astronauts walk away from it.
They were lives lost to managerial short-sightedness and corner-cutting.
It's one thing to take a calculated risk when you understand the odds. To take your fate in your own hands. It's totally different to put your fate in the hands of others, who then don't treat the situation with the diligence it deserves.
You wanna try your luck with the Russian space program?
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
T+plus 33 minutes. A few seconds after solid rocket booster separation, a large chunk of something broke free from the external fuel tank. The onboard video camera mounted on the tank showed the object flying away from the vehicle without striking Discovery.
Want to bet that chunk of film is going to be looked at rather closely?
"Seven Deadly Sins? I thought it was a to-do list!"
Sky News (UK) have clearly shown an object falling onto the tail of the shuttle as it left the launch pad. The tail knocks the object with enough force to push the object upwards. Question is, is it the same type of object that was shown falling away at booster seperation?Hopefully no damage to the shuttle tail.
O'WONDERWe're working on it.
I'm excited because my 10 y.o. son is excited. Try living your life a little through your child's eyes. You'll probably lose some of your cynicism and enjoy things like you did as a child again. It's great.
No way is it an even bet if humans can compete with the Earth's systems for extinction events.
History shows that the planet is WAY better at it than we could ever hope to be.
Even if we popped all the nukes on Earth, it'd not register on the list of extinction events.
The goal was to inform, not to editorialize, and there was obviously no pressure to "fill in the gaps" left by silence. It really almost gave you a feeling of being there.
You just hit the nail on the head as to what ails American TV broadcast of live events, most commentators don't know when to STFU. You'd never know a picture's worth a thousand words with all the inane drivel being spewed. Sportscasts are the worst in this regard. What I wouldn't give for the ability to filter out the commentators but keep the event/crowd sounds. Sigh...