BREAKING: NBC News finds Jan 30 NASA Memo showing serious concern about tile damage!

NBC News | February 3, 2003 | Jay Barbree

[Timesink]

Developing. Watch MSNBC for latest. Internal memo shows some engineers believe there was up to a 7 1/2-inch gash from the foam breakoff at launch. Memo was serious enough to go out to all NASA centers two days before disaster.

[Howlin]

The crew KNEW they had been hit. Stop spreading misinformation.

[Fred Mertz]

I will take your word for it. I was unaware and appreciate the input.

[Miss Marple]

The crew wasn't kept in the dark. They were informed of the insulation hitting the ship as soon as NASA saw it on the tape. No one thought it would cause a problem, since it had happened before.

[Howlin]

I just saw this on another thread, not verified, but have you heard this?

To: PrivateIdaho

I haven't seen the photo you're referring to but from what I have been told, a photo was taken of the left wing. It was taken by an NSA spy satellite after the Orbiter maneuvered onto its back for the pic.

6 posted on 02/03/2003 1:35 PM EST by MAWG

[LPStar]

Don Nelson, of the famous TBLSHOW memo, is on Fox now, and is saying that once committed to orbit, THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE. He also says he thinks NASA followed correct procedure, as insulation has come off before and has not caused any problems.

If he's correct, then there was absolutely no backup plan for saving the astronauts when a fairly minor detail went wrong. This does seem to be the case, unfortunately.

[Mo1]

He also says he thinks NASA followed correct procedure, as insulation has come off before and has not caused any problems

True but I still think they need to scrap that insulation

But since I am not an expert, I'll wait till the final investigation is out

[Howlin]

Throw away factoid: did you know that Illan Ramon was the pilot who took out the Iraqi nuclear reactor?

[LPStar]

Throw away factoid: did you know that Illan Ramon was the pilot who took out the Iraqi nuclear reactor?

I knew he was one of the pilots. Did he have a lead role? We owe him, and the other pilots on that mission, a huge debt of gratitude.

[TLBSHOW]

What they didn't know was they were doomed maybe because of it.

[Howlin]

I am not sure about that; Fox just showed part of an interview he did after the raid. He looked about 20.......geez!

[Miss Marple]

I am for scrapping the insulation as well, particularly since it appears it was chosen as a replacement to the former type due to enviral concerns, rather than efficiency.

However, I am waiting to see the evidence as well, since the insulation may not even have been the cause.

[Dave S]

Thanks. I've always been direction challenged. Thats one of the many reasons they dont put me in a shuttle.

[Howlin]

BS.

[LPStar]

He looked about 20.......geez!

He was 48 when he died - so 22 years ago in 1981, he would have been about 26.

[A Citizen Reporter]

OH NO.....doomed! We are all doomed!

[TLBSHOW]

You miss the point. This mission should never of happened. The shuttle should of been grounded until things were fixed RIGHT.....see the Nelson letter to President Bush.

[Fred Mertz]

did you know that Illan Ramon was the pilot who took out the Iraqi nuclear reactor?

Yes, age 48. I didn't know much about this mission until it failed.

[Howlin]

Perhaps you can catch in again on CNN........I'm sorry it WAS CNN.

[Miss Marple]

I JUST SAW NELSON ON FOX. HE DID NOT SAY ANY SUCH THING, AND YOU NEED TO BE QUIET!!!!!!

[Howlin]

As if men smart enough to become astronauts didn't know what was going on. That's an insult to those who died, IMO.

I guess they don't have a "gift," though, huh?