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NASA urged to get in-flight inspection, repair plan
Mercury News ^ | 6/27/03 | Marcia Dunn - AP

Posted on 06/27/2003 10:24:44 AM PDT by NormsRevenge

Edited on 04/13/2004 3:31:29 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Columbia accident investigators urged NASA on Friday to develop an inspection and emergency repair plan for astronauts in orbit before space shuttle launches resume.

It was the third preliminary recommendation issued by the investigation board in advance of its final report, due out in a month. NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe said Thursday he hopes to resume shuttle flights by April.


(Excerpt) Read more at bayarea.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Government
KEYWORDS: inflight; inspection; nasa; repairplan; urged
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1 posted on 06/27/2003 10:24:44 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
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To: NormsRevenge
Columbia accident investigators urged NASA on Friday to develop an inspection and emergency repair plan for astronauts in orbit before space shuttle launches resume.

Great. Now the shuttles are going to have duct tape and plastic sheeting as well.

2 posted on 06/27/2003 10:26:45 AM PDT by dirtboy (Not enough words in FR taglines to adequately describe the dimensions of Hillary's thunderous thighs)
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To: NormsRevenge
D'uoh!
3 posted on 06/27/2003 10:40:42 AM PDT by thegreatbeast (Quid lucrum istic mihi est?)
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To: NormsRevenge
When I read these plans, it makes me angry more than anything else. Most of these ideas are so elemental that it is insulting to think NASA didn't think of them before.

Let's say a motorist was driving his family down the street with his eyes shut, and killed seven pedestrians. Would people be satisfied if he said, "I've consulted with experts and from now on we're going to institute a new policy of driving with our eyes open?" Hell no!

NASA was driving down the street with their eyes shut and I, for one, am angry about it. They operated the family vehicle in a reckless manner and charges should be leveled. Heads should roll!
4 posted on 06/27/2003 10:45:09 AM PDT by DoughtyOne
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To: NormsRevenge; bonesmccoy; XBob
NASA's new requirement for daylight liftoffs, in order to photograph any shedding foam and other debris, severely limits the number of potential launch days, O'Keefe noted.

That may well be the understatement of the year. I am guessing that this requirement will make it impossible to launch from KSC to the ISS but for a dozen or so days per year. If I am right about this, the pressure to get the launch off within the few available 5-minute windows will be unbearable.

Once again, thank you AlGore for forcing the Russian high-inclination orbit on the U.S. space program.

5 posted on 06/27/2003 10:52:02 AM PDT by snopercod
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To: All
Here is an explanation of why shuttle launch windows to the ISS are so short (The article is about the MIR, but the same orbital mechanics apply):

Why are MIR Rendezvous Mission Launch Windows So Short?

6 posted on 06/27/2003 11:01:28 AM PDT by snopercod
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To: NormsRevenge

7 posted on 06/27/2003 11:23:14 AM PDT by scab4faa
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To: NormsRevenge
Does this mean that they're gonna dump the EPA mandated foam? (Older foam was deemed harmful to the ozone layer by the EPA due to freon (sp?) fumes during application,The older foam didn’t sluff off as easily)
There was a curious silence regarding this fact during the investigations.
Some EPA heads should roll also
8 posted on 06/27/2003 1:31:16 PM PDT by Robe
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To: NormsRevenge
NASA's top spaceflight official, former astronaut Bill Readdy, said foam almost certainly will be eliminated from the section of the tank where it broke loose during Columbia's launch in January and on at least six previous flights. Heaters will be attached to the surface there to prevent ice from forming once super-cold fuel is pumped into the tank.

We really haven't heard that much about ice, but I think it's likely that was part of what hit the wing.

9 posted on 06/27/2003 1:41:29 PM PDT by Moonman62
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To: DoughtyOne
When I read these plans, it makes me angry more than anything else. Most of these ideas are so elemental that it is insulting to think NASA didn't think of them before.

NASA has had a small soccer ball sized satellite available to use for inspections. It was tested successfully years ago.

10 posted on 06/27/2003 1:44:26 PM PDT by Moonman62
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To: Moonman62
Seems like it should have been on all missions.
11 posted on 06/27/2003 1:58:35 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (Vote Dimpublican in 2004. Socialism's kinder gentler party: No wallet will be left behind...)
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To: leadpenny
Ping.
12 posted on 06/27/2003 2:03:46 PM PDT by Springman
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To: snopercod; XBob; wirestripper; NormsRevenge; ALOHA RONNIE
My guess is that the WH and POTUS will grapple with the debacle at NASA in term two. I am thinking that there will be no return to flight until after the 2004 election.

What do you guys think?
13 posted on 06/28/2003 12:23:37 AM PDT by bonesmccoy (Defeat the terrorists... Vaccinate!)
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To: bonesmccoy
I think that whaever mods NASA decides to perform will probably take close to a year, anyway.

If they decide to ship the ETs back to Michoud and remove/replace the foam, it will take even longer. I doubt they will do this. The KSC-applied bipod ramp will be the fall-guy, regardless of the real problem.

I told everyone from the first that NASA would try and blame the loss of the Columbia on the workers at KSC, and that is proving to be true.

14 posted on 06/28/2003 3:02:03 AM PDT by snopercod
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To: NormsRevenge
I here that the insulating foam ( which fell from the external tanks ) is NEW. The OLD foam insulation was produced with FREON. Maybe true, maybe not.

I do know, however, The Left has done this; the weak minded at NASA have allowed it. Political Correctness & the harsh anti-male culture ( both of which pervade every compartment in our society ) have killed the Columbia.

Try watching Apollo 13 ( the film again ). Watch the portrayal of the crew ON THE GROUND at Flight Control.

I actually found the book, Jim Lovell's "Lost Moon" long before I saw the movie. It shows greater detail of Americans who behaved in a more normal manner...

The MEN at NASA who were on duty during Apollo, would not have quietly allowed the crew to die ( through acts of ommision or commission ). They may have still perished-but not with out a struggle. Disgusting-NASA should be turned over entirely to the military.
15 posted on 06/28/2003 3:22:42 AM PDT by GatekeeperBookman
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To: Robe
Thread opened w/o your post & several others a minute ago. I see you are talking FREON. Must be a real issue.

Trouble is, fix just about everything, & weaklings still rule. I would not again trust NASA, for any purpose.
16 posted on 06/28/2003 3:27:59 AM PDT by GatekeeperBookman
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To: bonesmccoy
What do you guys think?

That has been my fear all along.

The foam difficulty on the tank must be solved, and we are talking a lot of time here. They have been working on the problem for years but now will need to test a variety of ideas.

The mods that will be suggested for the orbiter will take a similar amount of time and will screw up all the charts as far as payload etc.

I do expect a series to test flights but a light schedule for some time to come. All of them will go to the ISS. They will be few and far between. Beginning likely in mid to late 2004.

17 posted on 06/28/2003 4:40:20 AM PDT by Cold Heat (Negotiate!! .............(((Blam!.)))........... "Now who else wants to negotiate?")
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To: GatekeeperBookman
Actually NASA finally got the waiver from the EPA to use the banned freons.

The tank in question however, was manufactured some years ago using the substitutes.

It was the second oldest tank in inventory.

18 posted on 06/28/2003 4:47:27 AM PDT by Cold Heat (Negotiate!! .............(((Blam!.)))........... "Now who else wants to negotiate?")
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To: snopercod
Re: Blaming KSC

can't argue with the facts... whenever a mission is launched, the last guy who touches the hardware is the natural target for investigation.

19 posted on 06/28/2003 8:13:11 AM PDT by bonesmccoy (Defeat the terrorists... Vaccinate!)
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To: bonesmccoy; XBob
I lived through Challenger and the aftermath. Although the folks at KSC had absolutely nothing to with the loss of Challenger, they were saddled with multiple extra layers of "oversight", implying that somehow it was their fault and they needed to be watched.

Thanks to Dr. Richard Feynman, NASA's attempt to blame KSC for Challenger failed, and the true culprits turned out to be - yup - NASA management who overruled the Thiokol engineers.

NASA is trying the same game this time, as if KSC was responsible for the poor design and lack of foresight.

Let's take a moment to recall that it was a contractor at KSC who raised a red flag about the foam shedding several years ago. NASA ignored him.

Let's also recall that it was someone at KSC who originally requested DoD photos of the shuttle due to the debris strike. NASA spiked the request.

The KSC folks love the shuttles like a momma' loves her children. Sorry, but I see no evidence of the same dedication and willingness to go out on a limb at the other NASA centers.

Sadly, it will be the KSC contractors who suffer the inevitable layoffs, while NASA continues shuffling papers to justify their continued existence. In all my 13 years in the space program, I never knew of a single NASA person who ever got layed off. It just doesn't happen.

20 posted on 06/28/2003 11:04:12 AM PDT by snopercod
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