[MadIvan]

Steyn understands.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[Republic of Texas]

Steyn bump.

[rs79bm]

Mark Steyn Bump.

[laconic]

Is anyone out there able to answer this technical question? When I was a kid during the 1960s space shots, there were several minutes of radio silence/no telemetry transmission when the capsule was undergoing re-entry into the earth's atmosphere and communications were blocked. Now, there seems to be no break in shuttle/NASA communications during such reentry, as this morning's flight evidenced from the point they started their descent until the tragedy occurred. A) Is the latter true, i.e, that there is no longer a communications blackout during reentry?, and B) if it is, what technological breakthrough occurred enabling communications even during reentry?

[irv]

A frontier is part of the US character.

bttt.

[LonePalm]

Thanks again, Ivan,

Farewell sweet princes and prencesses. May bands of angels wing thee to thy rest.

Farewell shipmates, keep the bar stools warm and a pint cold. I'll be there in due time.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[RobFromGa]

bttt.

[Eala]

Within an hour of the Shuttle's loss, a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation interviewer was gleefully asking her alleged expert whether the failure was due to American "arrogance", the same "arrogance" the Americans are currently demonstrating in the Middle East.

A pox upon Canada and the CBC.

[Travis McGee]

Yes he does. And so do our stalwart British allies.

[prairiebreeze]

* It is also a setback for Washington, which had plotted this week as a projection of American resolve:*

There's truth in this. Been thinking about this very thing in the back of my mind today. "What will it do to the process? What will it mean to the military, the Allies, etc. etc.?"

Bush declared a week of flags being lowered. This is bound to knock the wind out of the sails for a bit I think

[PhilDragoo]

I watched the Columbia land April 1981. We were building a house for the retired head of Sandia Labs and he called us in for "a historic moment".

These risked all for the benefit of all.

They showed the best of the American spirit: to have the sophistication and daring to seek knowledge on the dangerous path.

Steyn notes the predictable schadenfreude of America haters.

God receive those who today gave all for the benefit of all mankind.

Godspeed those who now go to safeguard our God-given freedoms.

. . .tougher about these things now. . .

[goldstategop]

Mark Steyn makes the point technology can fail us at times. But he also reminds us the greatness of America as a country is its willingness to go where no one else dares. In our exploration of the heavens we will after we mourn our dearly departed dead to continue bringing back what they wanted to share with us - the excitement of new discoveries on the final frontier. As Ronald Reagan so justly said once America's best days are still to come and that is even more true now than ever.

[wretchard]

After Hitler had lost hope in his army, he turned for comfort to sendings from his familiar demons, and the signs, portents and auguries of astrology. He saw in Roosevelt's death the impending breakup of the alliance. These delusions, combined with drugs, kept him going until the last hours in the bunker.

I for one, am glad that the Islamists must, like Richard Reid, hope in the a last judgement by Allah to save them. They know in their hearts that their suicide warriors, their Osama Bin Ladens and their mighty armies have been snapped like a rotten twig. Yet they blaspheme to think that any just God, called Allah or not, will intervene to continue their program of murder. Perhaps they are right in this: God is rendering the Last Judgement and they are in the dock.

[petuniasevan]

Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster Archive ^

[RippleFire]

BUMP

[McGavin999]

If Mr Bush really wanted to emphasise the gulf between his country and both the Islamist cave dwellers and "Old Europe", he would announce a major renewal of the space project. A frontier is part of the US character.

Thank you Mark, for understanding us, these days it's rare indeed. President Bush should announce a renewal of the space project that will enhance his program of developing hydrogen fuel. One of the best things about the space program was the leaps and bounds that were made in the technology that enhanced our everyday lives. Let's not just renew the program, let's seek truely innovative solutions that can be applied to current problems.

God, I love America, and I love our people.

[BluH2o]

Nonetheless, this will not be as traumatisingly mesmeric as the Challenger disaster. The yellow-ribbon era died with September 11: even if their television networks haven't quite adjusted, Americans are tougher about these things; this is a country at war and one that understands how to absorb losses and setbacks.

I would agree with this ... I remember specifically where I was when I heard of the Challenger disaster, the same, of course, with 9/11. These events were etched in my memory much like Pearl Harbour was for my parents. This tragic event didn't impress me the same way ... it was more like hearing about the PanAm flight going down over Lockerbie(sp?), tragic certainly, and not taken lightly, but somehow not quite as searing in my memory.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[George W. Bush]

If Mr Bush really wanted to emphasise the gulf between his country and both the Islamist cave dwellers and "Old Europe", he would announce a major renewal of the space project. A frontier is part of the US character.
...
The rest of us will mourn the dead and urge Nasa to get on with the next flight. That's the American way.

Big NASA bump. Steyn hits it on the head. Let's keep flying and build a new fleet of ships.

[FReethesheeples]

Good insights from a person who can be a brilliant political satirist, but who is striking some non-humorous, but thoughtful chords here.