Columbia Discussion thread

Feb 1, 2003

[Timesink]

CBS is signing off live coverage.

[Arkinsaw]

It should surprise nobody that shuttle debris sales (or claims to that effect) are already appearing on eBay. I am contacting eBay to ascertain their policy on such sales.

These people will soon find out that attempting to sell United States Government property is very expensive to your free time and pocketbook.

[SAMWolf]

The same ones who celebrated when the Towers came down.

[PhiKapMom]

Thanks! That was very nice of you! God Bless!

[Ima Lurker]

Enlighten me, please. What does a heart murmer have to do with making a mistake? Where is the proof that Grissom panicked and blew the hatch prematurely? The mistakes made by Kalpana Chawla have been well documented.

[Route66]

These experts were all very close to this mission these men and women who are dead. They also work for a government agency and are EXPECTED to give the press some information, and I beleive they are doing their best. They are providing as much technical information as they have. I know I would not do as well in a similar situation.

[Conservababe]

Well, I guess as a medical professional, I do not understand unrestrained emotions under pressure or grief...except in private, if it involves your profession.

[firewalk]

Amen

Thanks for the ping Texokie

[ChemistCat]

Ebay will pull any auctions of shuttle debris and notify the proper authorities--I'm 99% sure. They're sensitive to THIS kind of thing anyway.

[Timesink]

Columbia Shuttle Tile - "This is an authentic piece of shuttle tile designed for the Columbia Shuttle! It was never used and is new in a plastic display box that is 2" by 3"."

Posted one hour ago.

[Calvinist_Dark_Lord]

If a tire inflated to 300psi (according to Michlin specifications) heats up and expoldes in virtually no atmosphere, it will do some massive damage. A regular automobile tire at 45psi at ground level and normal temperatures makes a pretty impressive explosion and does some damage.

To ALL: There has never been a SAM made that can hit something going mach 18. An ICBM does mach 13, (about 25 times faster than a bullet), and we can't intercept one of them yet. Even if the SAM exploded right beside the shuttle, the fragments couldn't catch up.

[Rockitz]

This would appear to imply that the hydraulic system got too hot or there was a leak in the system to begin with. Lots of questions come to mind.

1. Must me missing a tile somewhere?
2. Loss of control of left wing due to hydraulic leak.
3. Wonder how the hydraulic fluid thermally decomposes?
4. Is there enough air for combustion?
5. Burning jet of hydraulic fluid causes other problems?

I was looking into risk earlier. Risk-wise NASA counted on a loss of 1 in 50 shuttle flights when the program was originally conceived. The risk has certainly gone down significantly in the wake of Challenger, but we were probably overdue. I have found a more recent briefing which indicates the loss rate is now calculated to be 1 in 250 as of 2002 which is an amazing number as far as space launch is concerned. I think we are well over 150 flights now. Their aim at the time of the briefing was 1 in 500 by 2012. Here's the link.

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/codeq/safetydir/Wednesday/stamatelatos.pdf

It truly is rocket science.

[JulieRNR21]

Thank you for your prayer to which I add my own fervent AMEN.

[Arkinsaw]

Well, I guess as a medical professional, I do not understand unrestrained emotions under pressure or grief...except in private, if it involves your profession.

Not trying to criticize you as I admire your ability to do that. But have you had to go in front of the press discussing in clinical detail how your best friend at work just died? It might be a bit different than dealing with the death of a regular patient.

[DoughtyOne]

At a time like this the President needn't do much more than express the feelings that we all share. An expression of a great sense of loss, condolences to the families, coworkers and friends of the lost souls. It doesn't seem right now that the achievements are worth the cost, but we know in time that we will realize that they were. We will press on to achieve the goals they paid the price to reach. And we will know that when we reach that goal, that every person who contributed was willing to pay that cost, realizing the chances they were taking. The emotions run the gamet from sorrow, to pride, to a sense of loss, to a realization that we are never better than when we come together as a nation in trying times. Today we have friends in foreign lands who share our grief. So much the better.

[Cboldt]

. . . is it just me or do anyone of you find the NASA press conference too emotional?

I'm sure it is -NOT- just you.

But I find the conference to be suitably informative from a technical point of view, and understandably emotional. I do not share your "opinion," that the conference is too emotional.

[lainie]

Representatives of the religion of peace.

And these don't appear to be undercover fanatics we're talking about. That story says popular opinion from Joe Blow on the street.

[ChemistCat]

Thank you.

[Miss Marple]

Thanks you fordelivering the flowers, isthisnickcool.

TEXOKIE, thank you for your prayer.

[MadIvan]

I can almost guarantee that one of the first people to call President Bush would have been Prime Minister Blair.

We grieve with you, as your bretheren.

Regards, Ivan