Damn whaddya know, a photo did pay off. Now just imagine if that same camera had been used 14 days earlier. Now just imagine if the next shuttle launch team and gone on 24 hour rotations to get it airborn. Then consider that the Columbia crew had used their thrusters to go higher in space rather than deorbit.
I believe it was Endearvor that landed five days later than planed. This means the Columbia could have possibly stated in space until February 6th or possibly a little longer.
The next shuttle was schedule to launch March 1, 2003. That was 40 days later. If a forty day launch process had gone 24 hour instead of 8 hour shifts, we might have seen it launched in 12-15 days.
They knew the shuttle wing was suspect on 01/18. Add 12-15 days to that and it's 01/30-02/04.
This is what I've been trying to say from day one. Early adherance to can-do attitudes could have prevented this loss. IMO
Look, I realize this is conjecture. I don't think it's wild conjecture by any means.
The fact that NASA didn't try any rescue or repair and keeps stating that there were no alternatives just rubs people the wrong way. Even if they are correct, there will be political and personnel consequences now that so many people have heard the blunt statements.
Agree entirely. Remember during WWII after the battle of the Coral Sea, the Enterprise (i believe) had been severly damaged, being knocked out of action for "months", or so everyone thought. Working feverishly, the Navy crews in Hawaii got it fixed in 48 HOURS, it sailed off to Midway and was one of the crucial factors in the great US victory there, which was the turning point in the Pacific: Japan never again was a serious threat.
Its all about WILL and GUMPTION. The crew could have been saved if the decision had been made to save them...