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Debris Seen Falling Off Shuttle During Launch

kushboy writes "According to an article on CNN.com, there is video of debris falling off Discovery during its launch earlier today. While the debris does not appear to hit the shuttle, extra precaution and more video will be analyzed due to the Columbia mission of 2003. 'NASA has taken steps to minimize the amount and size of debris falling off the shuttle's exterior tank during its ascent. But the space agency has said it's impossible to eliminate falling launch debris.'"

4 of 396 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Nice misleading story, guys... by Seumas · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    Am I wrong or is BREAKING OFF FROM the compeltely opposite of HITTING.

  2. Re:Images of bird impact and debris by pete-classic · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Spin everywhere you look. Best I can tell the shuttle was making about 18fps (40mph) when the impact occurred.

    I think it's fair to say that the shuttle flew into the bird. Can you imagine someone telling you that a bird flew into his car, then admitting he was doing 40 at the time?

    Next thing you know people will be accusing the bird of being a Jihadist.

    -Peter

  3. garbage by Monoliath · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    All this shuttle garbage is a bunch of over emphasized crap, it's disgusting, the columbia incident is now being exploited as a series of anal media attention to what use to be the most insignificant information that could ever come from Nasa.

    My two cents

  4. Real answer: Abolish NASA by Bob_Robertson · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Private efforts have already demonstrated that they can "prevent debris from falling off the tank" because they don't use the pork-barrel cluster-frell that is this "space shuttle" thing.

    The space shuttle is a perfect example of design by committee, and budget by politicians. THAT is why it keeps failing. It's an expensive, unreliable method of getting into LOW earth orbit, a place that is practically useless which is why all the real payloads have to be brought up with their own boosters attached to them.

    The most effective thing "we" could do for space travel is abolish NASA. Quit throwing good money after bad, auction off all their assets to the highest bidders and let it go already! Before more people die pointlessly.

    Bob-

    --
    The Ludwig von Mises Institute. The reasoning individuals economics