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Discovery's Dangling Gapfiller Removed by Hand
Cyclotron_Boy writes "According to the New Scientist and NASA TV, Discovery's gap-fillers were removed successfully by hand by astronaut Steve Robinson earlier today during the eva. They didn't even have to use the forceps or the makeshift hacksaw-blade tool."
...Good news everyone! You get to live!
adventure-today.com
Transcript of conversation between Discovery and ground control:
Discovery: OK, Houston...I'm in position..I see the dangling gap-filler now.
Houston: OK, Discovery...just grasp the gap-filler and pull.
Discovery: OK, Houston...I'm pulling now...it's coming out...it's coming out rather easily.
Houston: Just keep pulling gently and firmly...you're doing well.
Discovery: It's still coming, Houston...there's a lot more here than I thought...
Houston: Say again, Discovery?
Discovery: I said there's quite a lot of gap-filler here...about twenty yards so far...
Houston: STOP PULLING, Discovery...it seems you're unravelling the whole belly of the ship!
Discovery: I'm what, Houston? Say again, ple...OH SHIT! THE GODDAMNED TILES ARE ALL FALLING OFF!
Houston: Don't panic, Discovery.
Discovery: DON'T PANIC, YOU ASSHOLE? WHAT SHOULD I DO? WE NEED THOSE TILES!
Houston: Stand by, Discovery...we're working on a solution.
Discovery: SCREW YOU, HOUSTON! We're going to the ISS now...send up another shuttle to carry our asses back home!
Houston: Um...yeah...about the other shuttles, Discovery...
Discovery: What NOW?
Houston: Yeah...the shuttle fleet has been permanently grounded...too many people freaked about the foam thing...
Discovery:Nobody up here CARES, Houston...you get us a flight outta here NOW, or we start smashing satellites!
Houston: OK, OK, Discovery...no need to get violent...I'll make some calls.
Discovery: Yeah...you do that...and just so you know we're serious...
Houston: What do you mean?
Discovery: When we hear some good news from you, you'll get CNN back. Not before.
____
~ |rip/\/\aster /\/\onkey
"What's Bond doing?"
"I think he's attempting reentry, sir."
The gap filler is needed to keep the tiles from rattling on LIFTOFF. Once in space, we don't need it.
WE? What, are you posting from orbit?
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