Columbia Discussion thread

Feb 1, 2003

[Mamzelle]

re: I am going to try to get together with him soon again. He has a lot of interesting stories about the stress factor that exists at NASA.)))

Remember me when you ping.

[Arkinsaw]

with things like changes taking place underway during tests

I've never worked in any shop where code changes weren't made during testing and none of them went back and reran the entire test plan after each fix. Theoretically you could be in testing forever.

I am certain that NASA has more rigorous testing criteria but what you say is definitely a possibility.

[NonValueAdded]

Oh, Please ...

[CyberAnt]

I'm stunned; cannot stop crying. My heart is broken for all the families and the children. But ... if I see one Arab jumping up and down for joy at this loss of Ilan Ramon ... I cannot even express how angry I will be.

I heard Shepard Smith say there was some insulation which came loose during lift-off and it struck one of the wings. At the time, they determined it was not a threat ... now, I wonder if there was more damage than they realized ...?

I also heard that the people on the space station were expecting to come home in May or June - and now that may be delayed, or they will try to use the Russian capsule to rescue the space station people.

[jedwardtremlett]

(shrugs)

Do the bozos need anyone dead other than an israeli to go have a party?

J

[hole_n_one]

[Dog]

I think I read that the shuttle does a braking maneuver by doing a zig zag....that might explain the sideways motion..

[McGavin999]

Americans are an inquisitive, exploratory people. Explorers are always on the edge. We will suffer losses because we lean into the wind of discovery. Hail the brave!

Thanks Faraday, that bears repeating. These people should be mourned but they should also be celebrated. There is always a risk when you are doing something that few others would do, and the Challanger was a machine. Things happen with machines, and all risks can never be eliminated.

[EternalVigilance]

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, Texas 77058

Biographical Data

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

KALPANA CHAWLA (PH.D.) NASA ASTRONAUT

PERSONAL DATA: Born in Karnal, India. Kalpana Chawla enjoys flying, hiking, back-packing, and reading. She holds Certificated Flight Instructor's license with airplane and glider ratings, Commercial Pilot's licenses for single- and multi-engine land and seaplanes, and Gliders, and instrument rating for airplanes. She enjoys flying aerobatics and tail-wheel airplanes.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Tagore School, Karnal, India, in 1976. Bachelor of science degree in aeronautical engineering from Punjab Engineering College, India, 1982. Master of science degree in aerospace engineering from University of Texas, 1984. Doctorate of philosophy in aerospace engineering from University of Colorado, 1988.

EXPERIENCE: In 1988, Kalpana Chawla started work at NASA Ames Research Center in the area of powered-lift computational fluid dynamics. Her research concentrated on simulation of complex air flows encountered around aircraft such as the Harrier in "ground-effect." Following completion of this project she supported research in mapping of flow solvers to parallel computers, and testing of these solvers by carrying out powered lift computations. In 1993 Kalpana Chawla joined Overset Methods Inc., Los Altos, California, as Vice President and Research Scientist to form a team with other researchers specializing in simulation of moving multiple body problems. She was responsible for development and implementation of efficient techniques to perform aerodynamic optimization. Results of various projects that Kalpana Chawla participated in are documented in technical conference papers and journals.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Selected by NASA in December 1994, Kalpana Chawla reported to the Johnson Space Center in March 1995 as an astronaut candidate in the 15th Group of Astronauts. After completing a year of training and evaluation, she was assigned as crew representative to work technical issues for the Astronaut Office EVA/Robotics and Computer Branches. Her assignments included work on development of Robotic Situational Awareness Displays and testing space shuttle control software in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory.

In November, 1996, Kalpana Chawla was assigned as mission specialist and prime robotic arm operator on STS-87 (November 19 to December 5, 1997). STS-87 was the fourth U.S Microgravity Payload flight and focused on experiments designed to study how the weightless environment of space affects various physical processes, and on observations of the Sun's outer atmospheric layers. Two members of the crew performed an EVA (spacewalk) which featured the manual capture of a Spartan satellite, in addition to testing EVA tools and procedures for future Space Station assembly. In completing her first mission, Kalpana Chawla traveled 6.5 million miles in 252 orbits of the Earth and logged 376 hours and 34 minutes in space. In January, 1998, Kalpana Chawla was assigned as crew representative for shuttle and station flight crew equipment. Subsequently, she was assigned as the lead for Astronaut Office’s Crew Systems and Habitability section. She is currently assigned to the crew of STS-107 scheduled for launch in 2003.

JANUARY 2003

[isthisnickcool]

Yeah, its all computer controlled.

There are redundant systems in place that handle the fly-by-wire systems. Keep in mind that these systems are gliding a brick in. Systems computer controlled but the pilots are capable of doing many things manually. And the pilot does land the vehicle manually. But if the code was modified such that it suddenly turned the shuttle during re-entry? You can assume that NASA has the systems code locked down. Or can you?

See here for a basic primer on the shuttle system.

As far as some damage to the wing? If the wing was damaged enough to allow burn-thru and then the wing failed that might explain the sudden change in the glider's direction. The wing is breached then is sheared off then....

Many of these questions will be answered not by the video we have been seeing this morning but by the video NASA was taking from various sources as they usually do as a matter of course.

[Movemout]

"Not a heat spike within the shuttle - from the US spy sats. Our early warning satellites picked up an atmospheric "spike" where the shuttle was. "

There is a Soyuz attached to ISS as a lifeboat. They will probably launch another for backup when they evacuate the crew. It could spell the end for ISS because the shuttle is used to boost the orbit of ISS periodically. It is in a low enough orbit that there is drag from molecular oxygen that exists at that altitude and the effects of gravity.

[Peach]

Yes, our flag has been flying since about 10:30; once the initial shock wore off and I dried my tears. Prayers for all involved.

[bonesmccoy]

Am i the only person who thinks it idiotic to "pickup" a 5' diameter tank?

Sounds like a tank for fuel cells?

Must be a lengthy debris field.

This could be the end of the shuttle program.

The vehicles are too old and we need to move forwards with a new vehicle, a new day, a new NASA.

We need to pray for this loss, our nation, our President, and most of all...the families of the lost.

[Prince Charles]

Just saw your post and I agree. It was flying sideways.

[rintense]

Yep. I believe it began tumbling not too long after communication was lost. If NASAs statement that the last communication was about a loss of tire pressure, then I have to wonder if something began to rip open in the belly of the craft.

Does anyone know if the landing gear would have been down yet? I wouldn't think so, but you never know...

[michaelt]

They're not saying that there was definitely no terrorism involved, just that there is no indication of it at this time. That's what they always say, unless it's obvious that there was terrorism involved.

[tomkat]

good point, with no truly good answer on this end.

guess i should buy another one.

the current one is a veteran of several DC FReeps,
most notably at the USSC in 2000, and is showing its scars ...

[tall_tex]

One of my highschool classmates is Flight Director at NASA in Houston. I just E'd him our best wishes reguarding this tragedy.

He is probably pretty busy right now, I will advise any details I get when I hear back from him.

[Dog]

I just put my flag out...

[Lib-Lickers 2]

May we all mourn for the four dead on the Blackhawk a few days ago as much as we do today,, It seems our brave military heroes never get the same sympathy,,