[CyberAnt]

"the tank debris event at launch played a key role in the root cause of the accident"

If this event is proven true - I predict the envirowhackos WILL BE PUT OUT OF BUSINESS. To protect the environment at the cost of 7 people is waaaaaaay too high a price to pay.

I cannot believe that the amount of Freon previously used for the shuttle was significant enough to cause damage to the environment.

[bvw]

It was NASA who made the decision to launch. Not Greenpeace. NASA, the institution, where over time, environmental and diversity considerations are weighed right up there with safety. A "Can Do What Has Been Done" mantra-chanting NASA.

[DugwayDuke]

" I predict the envirowhackos WILL BE PUT OUT OF BUSINESS."

The environmental wackos will survive. Since you can get a waiver to use freon in critical applications, the wackos will simply blame NASA for not applying for the waiver. In fact, they can claim the moral high ground by pointing out how reasonable they were in allowing this waiver.

BTW, I've applied twice for these waivers and both were approved. Another freeper on another thread indicated that NASA also had a freon waiver.