NASA Press Conference LIVE THREAD

Fox, CNN, networks, NASA TV | February 2, 2003 | NASA

[snopercod]

Any time now...

[1Old Pro]

YOU ARE A REPORTER. What Question would you ask Sean O'Keefe about the shuttle tragedy-

[Jael]

Ah, so it would shatter and spray like it did.
That makes sense.

A gentleman posting here who worked at NASA says the tiles are so fragile that a quarter dropped on one from two feet would ruin it.

[r9etb]

Actually the wheels are deployed by hydraulic power and mechanical bungees.

Obviously I didn't say what I intended to -- IIRC, the landing gear door opening is enabled by pyro actuators. Is that correct?

[OldFriend]

A friend has some rejected tiles. They have fingernail digs in them. REJECTED for those little digs. She tells me too that they are feather lite, they can withstand 3,000 degrees heat on the outside and can be held in your hand on the flip side. It's amazing!

Wish everyone would give more credit to the engineering feat that getting one of these birds up in the air entails. And realize too, the myriad of things that can go wrong.

[snopercod]

I'll get back to you on the gear.

Are you listening to Sean O'Keefe? What an embarassment for NASA. They can't even get the audio right for a major press conference. Reporter questions are not being broadcast, only O'Keefe's replies.

Sheesh...reminds me of the comm problems on Apollo 1.