[The South Park Republican]

I think I caught the Shepard Smith comment about the Indian astronaut. He mentioned that she had flown on another mission and she made some mistake in relation to a satellite and they had to send another astronaut out to retrieve it.

WOW! Pretty gutsy (And kind of stupid in an "Assumming" way) statement.

Anybody know how much control these astronauts have over the shuttle during the time this thing broke-up? And, any idea if she was behind the controls?

Of course, my questions are based on the assumption that she really did screw-up like Shep alluded too.

[SarahW]

She wasn't behind the controls. She was " upstairs" - belted in, and a "passenger" at the time of the breakup.

The pilots were on the level below.

[Timesink]

Anybody know how much control these astronauts have over the shuttle during the time this thing broke-up?

Largely on auto-pilot. Just communications with Houston making sure all the gauges say what they should be. The astronauts probably realized something was wrong for about one to two seconds maximum before they were dead.

[virgil]

Of course, my questions are based on the assumption that she really did screw-up like Shep alluded too.

The report of the mistakes by the Indian lady was also on AOL news, so you can't just blame it on FNC.

I doubt that pilots have much control at 12,500 mph.

[Poohbah]

Anybody know how much control these astronauts have over the shuttle during the time this thing broke-up?

A fair amount.

And, any idea if she was behind the controls?

Nope. She's a "mission specialist," not a shuttle pilot.