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NASA Probes Shuttle Oxygen Leak

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the getting-started-with-a-bang-not-necessarily-a-good-thing dept.

Cherita Chen writes "NASA is investigating the possibility of a gaseous oxygen leak, posing a serious fire risk, during the launch of the space shuttle Discovery in July. From the article: 'Engineers uncovered possible evidence of high concentrations of the gas in the rear engine compartment about two minutes after lift-off. A leak could lead to a fire or even an explosion in flight.'"

2 of 150 comments (clear)

  1. Obligatory MS Bashing by Tiberius_Fel · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Somebody has to say it, otherwise this wouldn't be a Slashdot article:

    The Space Shuttle is so buggy you'd think it was designed by Microsoft.

    Okay, back to working on my Windows Server 2003 Box now. Patch Tuesday today, you know.

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  2. Re:And it makes me wonder... by eldavojohn · · Score: -1, Flamebait
    Well, if you're going to swear about it, how about you fucking realize what caused the loss of those two space shuttles? One was a fucking O-ring failure at low temperatures (more a compliance failure than anything) and the other was a fucking foam fucking panel failing. Now what the fuck does that have to do with core memory? What the fuck does that have to do with computing advances?

    My god, the foam panelling that failed was new! Here's something for you to fucking read. Pay close attention to where it says:
    One suspected reason for the change in damage, according to reports by Katnik and outside organizations that helped Kennedy Space Center study the issue, is NASA changed the way it "foamed" the external tank sometime shortly before that mission in an effort to be more environmentally friendly by reducing the use of ozone-depleting materials. "Freon was used in the production of the previous foam," he reported. "This method was eliminated in favor of foam that did not require freon for its production. MSFC is investigating the consideration that some characteristics of the new foam may not be known for the ascent environment."
    Now, tell me again (this time with a straight face) that what caused this was an old spacecraft. Seems like a new material to me.

    I'll use vulgar language if it makes this language more comprehendable.

    People died because of these failures, DO NOT MAKE LIGHT OF WHAT NASA DOES. It is a difficult task.
    --
    My work here is dung.