Columbia Discussion thread

Feb 1, 2003

[Admin Moderator]

'

On behalf of posters on Free Republic, I post this with deepest sympathy for the crew and their families.

Mission - sts107

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This is a continuation of the original thread.

Shuttle Contact LOST-No Tracking Data During RE-Entry!

ANY DU LINKS OR POSTS WILL BE REMOVED IMMEDIATELY. Keep them on the original thread.

[DoctorMichael]

Some caller on C-SPAN who identified himself as a Proud Muslim (very strong Middle Eastern accent) and devotee of "the True God, Allah".........remarked that "America is all about death and destruction anyways" so none of this came as any surprise to him.

[HighWheeler]

Your simple post should have also provided a set of benefits as part of a cost-benefit analysis.

I have met many so-called "professional" engineers who have only a vestigial concept of risk analysis, risk abatement, hazard probability, and cost-benefit tradeoff analysis.

Lurking, sometimes you don't need to just lob a simple word to make a bad point. For instance, you didn't include the monetary price of the design, assembly, etc. of the shields. For some reason, the Apollo designers were willing to put a full shield over the entire leading face of the command module, despite the significant monetary cost, the added weight of fuel to lift it into space, and the risk that it might not deploy when commanded.

I'll bet that the shields tradeoff was made in the late '70s, and will be part of this investigation. Under "cost", it will list far more reasons than just "weight".

[steveegg]

Not to mention Texas FReepers, media, et al would all be in the dark (200Kft is a sufficient height to induce a space-based EMP pulse that would cover tens of thousands of square miles).

[Dog]

They found debris in New Mexico....so it might be possible..

[Mamzelle]

Several other astronauts were given a second chance at a mission after a major embarrassing foulup. Keep in mind that if an astronaut dreams of a mission, it involved extra EVA and not every mission gives every astronaut an EVA. EVA experience is valuable. Sounds like the goof ate up some time, but was far from terrible! Sheesh. When the shock wears off, wait'll you hear about some of the other goofs in missions...

[ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton]

Thank you.

And for all you people who believe it can't be terrorism because a missle can't get that high I say: "What about the re-entry codes?"

[Sacajaweau]

They noted her error "which sent the satellite tumbling" while showing her individual profile on ABC.

[Ichneumon]

But I don't apologize for stating the obvious - NASA is more interested in presenting a good show than in making good science.

So... Is it your contention that no one from outside the US can "make good science"? That the best person for the job, out of all the people in the world, "must" be American?

[republicangel]

this was her second flight on a shuttle. she was no newbie.

[Dog Gone]

Fox reports that some human remains have now been located.

[ez]

I still haven't figured out the point of this particular mission. I thought I heard it was for the ISS, then I read another post that they didn't get near it...

I've been wondering lately about the state of our satellite imaging abilities in the Middle East and East Asia regions. I'm considering the possibility, in complete ignorance of the facts, that our nation may be wanting to add to that capacity at this point in our history.

[Movemout]

"Do you have any idea how long the ISS can last in a decaying orbit without getting a boost from a Shuttle? "

I'm not sure of the interval but I am in error that the shuttle is the only means to do the boost. Progress cargo vehicles from Russia are adequate to the job. The only problem is that there aren't enough such vehicles to adequately address the job except in the near term.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Anyone heard anymore about the Central Calif photographer that claims to have witnessed debris falling from the shuttle over Central Cal???

[Howlin]

Me, too, but I was sure you'd have some reference materials for us. You are the "keeper," you know! I've been missing your links lately!

[Luis Gonzalez]

We pray for one last landing
On the globe that gave us birth;
Let us rest our eyes on the friendly skies
And the cool, green hills of Earth.

[hole_n_one]

Doug and Betty Haviland hold a small U.S. flag quilt given to them following the death of their son Timothy Haviland in the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York, Aug. 7, 2002, in their Ames, Iowa, home. The Haviland's neice, Laurel Clark, was one of seven astronauts on board the space shuttle Columbia that broke apart in flames over Texas, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003, killing all seven astronauts aboard. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

[Dog]

Dog how is that possible??

I mean they fell 200,000 feet..

[Sacajaweau]

Human remains have been found??? How awful.

[ladysusan]

Eye witnesses in Plano being interviewed re apartment fire.
Some question as to whether it not this was a bit of metal or just a terrible coincidence. Lots of smoke

[Howlin]

Bump!