Posted on 12/31/2008 1:34:25 PM PST by BuckeyeTexan
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Astronauts on the shuttle Columbia were trying to regain control of their craft before it broke apart in 2003, but there was no chance of surviving the accident, a NASA report said on Tuesday.
From the crew's perspective, the shift from what appeared to be a normal descent on Feb. 1, 2003, into tragedy happened so fast that the astronauts did not even have time to close the visors on their helmets.
Columbia broke apart about 20 kilometres over Texas as it headed for landing at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The cause of the accident was traced to a hole in one of the shuttle's wings, which was hit by a piece of falling foam insulation during launch 16 days earlier.
Seven astronauts were killed when superheated atmospheric gases blasted inside the breach like a blow torch, melting the ship's structure.
(Excerpt) Read more at theglobeandmail.com ...
So many years later and several states away, I watched the Columbia break apart in the skies over my home in Dallas/Fort Worth.
Both accidents were the result of repeatedly ignored warnings.
Too bad we can’t re-instill the right stuff from the days of Apollo 13 into NASA of today.
At 18,0000 miles per hour, there ain’t much hope for anyone in case of an emergency............
“At 18,0000 miles per hour, there ain’t much hope for anyone in case of an emergency.......”
that’s what I was thinking as I listened to some spokesman on the news last night. He was talking about all the safety precautions that NASA should or is developing.
One of the earliest indicators of a problem with this shuttle was a live thread on FR.
A poster in the western US posted a thread querying/indicating visible problems with the shuttle re-entry.
Sadly, the poster was correct that there were problems.
We followed the incident to its conclusion.
At that speed I’m sure it was all over in a matter of seconds, not minutes, and very few of them.............
And let's not forget that both accidents were also caused by NASA's insistence on going with the cheapest possible design for a shuttle.
From what I’ve heard they were unconscious in seconds but lived for minutes.
On the other hand, you're orbiting the sun MUCH faster than that right now.
EPA regulations have also played a part as they prevent the best materials from being used.
Were the O-Rings cheap, or just poorly designed?
The Shuttle is a prime example of the technology American Socialism produces.
I googled nasa rumors today looking for news on Obama cancelling Ares and instead found an anoymous nasa board where insiders are blasting ares as the 2 worst parts of the shuttle, the foam tank and the solid boosters. it was eye opening to see so many whistle blowers that want to go in a safer direction. Nasa must go on but it needs a new approach and management.
the O rings where cold.
Both accidents were caused by NASAs insistence on going with a shuttle design, period.
They could have and should have gone with a reusable SSTO instead.
IIRC, he didn’t report what he saw as a problem, he reported that he saw the shuttle and that there was more than one object he was tracking, like he saw some white trails alongside and he wondered what he saw, thinking it was a little odd but not a problem when he saw it
later, the media had to acknowlege that FR and that post itself was the very first visual indication of any problem
I’m sorry you saw both tragedies I was holding my breath watching sts-124 take off but went home filled with pride.
Too bad we can’t re-instill the right stuff from the days of Apollo 13 into America of today.
I’ll never forget watching the video of friends and family of Christa McAuliffe watching the Challenger launch and when it exploded, and the columns of smoke diverged, one of them said, “Is it supposed to look like that?”
So sad. I can’t imagine watching that happen knowing somebody inside.
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