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NASA Debates Second Discovery Repair
An anonymous reader writes "NASA is debating today whether or not they should attempt a second repair attempt of the Space Shuttle Discovery to repair a possible problem with the thermal blanket. On Wednesday, an astronaut removed two protruding cloth fillers from between the ceramic tiles on the space shuttle's heat shield. "I think in the old days we would not have worried about this so much," said shuttle programme deputy manager Wayne Hale The astronaut extended his gloved hand and quickly removed the first fiber strip, which was sticking up from Discovery's smooth, tiled underside. "It's coming out very easily," the astronaut said. Arm operator Jim Kelly then maneuvered the arm about three meters to the second protruding strip, known as a gap filler, and Robinson gently pulled that piece out as well. The concern now is whether or not a damaged thermal blanket under one of the cockpit windows would tear apart during re-entry and strike the orbiter."
What's the worst that could happen?
"Made up/misattributed quote that makes me look smart. I am on
> BREAKING NEWS NASA determines droopy shuttle insulation blanket not a danger to Discovery, no fourth spacewalk required. Details soon.
NASA says they will NOT do this ...
Hulk SMASH Celiac Disease
Is this truly the best source to quote for this type of story? I can think of several much better ones off the top of my head....
space.com
spaceflightnow.com
nasa.gov
flatoday.com
chron.com
L.L. Bean filed suit against NASA for using the term "Thermal Blanket" when discussing the potential repairs.
Joe Smith, lead counsel for L.L. Bean is quoted as saying "It's clear that NASA is attempting to make our consumers believe that L.L. Bean's thermal blankets are hazerdous. The fact is, there is no evidence to suggest that Thermal Blankets have ever caused damage, much less damage to a space shuttle."
Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened.
"extended his gloved hand and quickly removed the first fiber strip, which was sticking up from Discovery's smooth, tiled underside."
Is it me or am I the only person who when first glancing at that thought it was segment from erotic literature?
I'll leave it to the space buffs to argue about whether that's a good or a bad thing -- I just pay my taxes and enjoy the pretty pictures.
What I'm listening to now on Pandora...
Preparing for, and performing a spacewalk requires that the astronauts skip other tasks that have already been planned.
Safety first and all that.
A spacewalk is not without risk. That risk has to be weighed against the risk of not repairing the thermal blanket.
It's still not too late to bring This Ol' Bird out of retirement...
"The astronaut extended his gloved hand and quickly removed the first fiber strip, which was sticking up from Discovery's smooth, tiled underside."
Man, I didn't know spaceship repair could be so HOT... I need a moment alone...
In the current climate of "safety at all costs", it's a wonder any of us leave the house. How many product commercials and local newscasts contain that dreaded solemnly intoned phrase "How you can keep your fmily safe". My god, the last presidential election was all about safety at all costs, and little else. We've lost fewer men in Iraq than an average day during World War II. Cars are marketed about safety, efficiency be damned. Does anybody remember when being blasted into space on the tip of a rocket was a brave and noble thing to do because it was fucking dangerous? Remember Gordo Cooper? Chuck Yeager? Anybody rember White, Grissom and Chaffee? How about the Russians who died? Can we please stop obsessing about Crista damn McAuliffe and go back to exploring space? Jesus Christ, America TAKE A CHANCE!
</RANT>
No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
mmmm.... space shuttle slashfiction. I do believe that you've actually come up with a niche of sexual depravity that the interweb hasn't filled yet. Fascinating...
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Man's in the vacuum of space. Isn't it sort of implied that he's got gloves on? I always wanted the story to go, "He reached out his hand and thought, 'Oh shit I've forgotten my gloves.'"
www.HearMySoulSpeak.com
There is ALWAYS a cost for anything if you're prepared to look for it
Yeah, because when you factor in the salaries, benefits, and office resources used by those looking for the cost...
I wish people would stop comparing JÃnsi to God. He's good, but he's no JÃnsi.
Why do people around here like to pretend that NASA hasn't been/isn't working on shuttle replacements? Do the projects "NASP", "X-33", "OSP", and "CEV" not ring any bells?
The reason NASP and X-33 don't exist is because they called for technology that doesn't exist - congress, the white house, and top NASA brass tried to schedule innovation. OSP was rolled into CEV, and CEV doesn't exist because the project was just started.
CEV, being rather unambitious, probably *will* come to exist (at least the LEO CEV, which is looking more and more to be different from the lunar CEV, which will in turn be different from the Mars CEV), but I hope that they don't stop research on the "enabling" technologies that were needed for NASP and X-33 that weren't ready yet.
I wish people would stop comparing JÃnsi to God. He's good, but he's no JÃnsi.
q[During the 60's, a Soviet astronaut had problems getting back into the capsule and shutting the hatch, due to the pressuration in his suit.]q
To be fair that was during the first space walk. Ever. The Russians didn't let the rest of the world know about the problems encountered though -- including that he had to drop the suit pressure below the minimum safety level in order to get back in.
It's only been since the fall of the Soviet Union that a lot of the problems of the Soviet space program have come to light.