[aristeides]

By the way, there was a space reporter on Imus this morning who said that it would have been perfectly possible to find a way to save the astronauts: another shuttle could have been sent up to rescue them in about two weeks, and in the meantime they could have gotten supplies from rockets.

[Fred Mertz]

I didn't realize a rescue was possible. Thanks for that info.

[jpthomas]

It would have been possible, but "risky", as they would have had to forego a lot of the prelaunch testing of the rescue shuttle's systems.

What burns me about this rescue option are the reports that some NASA engineers tried to get the NASA program manager to request imagery of the shuttle wing by Air Force "overhead assets", but were shot down by the shuttle program manager. Those images might have shown enough damage to the leading edge to provide a good judgement call on whether to risk a rescue mission.

[TLBSHOW]

Request for Executive Order Limiting Space Shuttle Operations

August 25, 2002

Office of the President of the United States

Mr. George W. Bush

Subject: Executive Order for a Moratorium on Space Shuttle Flight

Mr. President,

I am a recently retired NASA aerospace engineer and it is my duty to inform you that our space shuttle astronauts are in imminent danger. Your intervention is required to prevent another catastrophic space shuttle accident. NASA management and the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel have failed to respond to the growing warning signs of another shuttle accident. Since 1999 the launch system has experienced the following potential disastrous occurrences:

July 1999 - Space Shuttle Columbia delayed by hydrogen leak.

December 1999 - Space Shuttle Discovery was grounded with damaged wiring, contaminated engine, dented fuel line, and paper work errors.

January 2000 - Space Shuttle Endeavor is delayed because of wiring and computer failures.

March 2000 - Space Shuttle Atlantis main engine must be replaced because of paperwork errors.

August 2000 - Inspection of Space Shuttle Columbia reveals 3,500 defects in wiring. Wiring defects plague entire fleet.

October 2000 - The 100th flight of the space shuttle was delayed because of a misplaced safety pin and concerns with the external tank.

April 2001 - NASA failed to keep adequate watch on safety operations of a major contractor.

July 2002 - The inspector general reports that space shuttle safety program not properly managed.

April 2002 - Hydrogen leak forces scrub of the Atlantis flight.

August 2002 - Shuttle launch system grounded after fuel line cracks are discovered in all the fleet!

Mr. President, as you are painfully aware NASA management has been lacking for a number of years. Unfortunately, your new NASA Administrator has failed to recognize the imminent space shuttle danger and has accepted the consul of the pre-existing NASA shuttle management.

These managers still pursue a management philosophy that has stagnated the safety upgrades efforts and perpetuates the staggering launch costs.

The space shuttle or any space transportation vehicle without crew escape modules will never be safe to transport humans. To incorporate crew escape modules in the space shuttle requires that the piloting function be removed from the vehicle. Unfortunately, the background of the shuttle management is that of former flight controllers and astronauts. They have been trained to never trust automated flight control systems. Therefore, they are adamantly opposed to automation of the space shuttle.

Efforts by NASA engineers and contractors to automate the shuttles are met with stern rebukes and reprimands in some cases.

Mr. President, to prevent another shuttle disaster it is requested that an Executive Order be issued that places a moratorium on space shuttle operations. This moratorium must limit shuttle missions to flight crews that do not exceed four members. The moratorium must remain in effect until crew escape modules can be incorporated.

This moratorium will serve as a catalyst to kick-start the resisting NASA management into action.

The lives of our astronauts and the future of our space program must not be ignored. The warning from the Thiokol engineer was ignored and the Challenger exploded.

The terrorist training warning from FBI agents was ignored and we had the 9-11 disaster.

When the next shuttle explodes...and Murphy’s Law says it will, we can exclaim with pride a loud "YES!" as the crew escape module carries our astronauts to safety... or if this moratorium is ignored...we can watch in horror and shame as the astronauts face certain death.

Don A. Nelson
Retired NASA Aerospace Engineer

Reply from the President's Office of Science and Technology Policy: "I do not think that it is appropriate for the President to issue a moratorium on Space Shuttle launches at this time" Dec. 4 2002.

Comments:
Dec. 12, 2002 another Shuttle propellant leak found! Sent another letter to President's OSTP.

February 1,2003 - Space Shuttle Columbia lost... the day we all cried.

http://www.nasaproblems.com/

[RightWhale]

it would have been perfectly possible to find a way to save the astronauts

Yes, but the head in the sand approach was used. This flight was the last flight that NASA won't have a backup ready to go every time and a complete in-flight inspection before re-entry. For the amount of money they spend they should have had all this.