Astronauts doomed from the start

.heraldsun ^ | 2/3/2003 | PHILLIP COOREY and ANNA COCK

[Howlin]

Todd, read it again. Get somebody to explain it to you.

He was NOT complimenting you.

[A Citizen Reporter]

Todd, do you read English?

Thanks? LOL!

[Howlin]

*rolling my eyes*

[Dan Day]

Can someone explain to me if it would be possible to break into NASA's computer and cause the Columbia to re-entere at the wrong angle and burn in the atmosphere?

Damned near impossible, I'd say. First, NASA has about a zillion computers, the odds of hacking into the right one, which contained the source code for the re-entry control software, would be astronomical -- presuming it's even reachable, it may well be kept off the network for security's sake, and might not even be "at" NASA at all, I'm not sure what company might have the subcontract for that work, it could be in California for all we know.

Second, the hacker would have to find the right version of the software, read it, and *understand* it well enough to know what he was looking at and how to tweak it so that it would do the desired effect, instead of just crashing, and in a way that wouldn't be immediately obvious. Then he'd have to ensure that the changes weren't noticed -- I'm sure NASA has multiple procedures to detect software alterations (not just against hacking, but to ensure that someone doesn't accidentally install the wrong version by mistake).

Finally, and here's the tough one, he'd have to find a way to get the ground-based, development version of the software to be uploaded to the Columbia and installed as its new onboard working version. That's almost certainly not something that can be instigated "remotely", it would have to be manually installed by a technician (and then tested and retested) only a result of a legitimate workorder.

It'd be a hell of a lot easier to just sneak a Stinger missile onto the landing runway...

[altayann]

And secure them in place in an anaerobic environment using what? Spot welding won't work without oxygen.

Neither will glue at temperatures lower than -10 Celsius.

[TLBSHOW]

Accidents don't just happen Howlin. There is always a cause to the accident. So what was the cause of this? I know you can't do it, you can't bring yourself to give an opinion except to be a thread nanny! LOL

[Luis Gonzalez]

That wasn't a compliment Todd, that was a slam.

Show me whatever you have to substantiate your "facts".

[Lancey Howard]

I'm afraid that the media have already decided that the foam insulation is the "obvious" cause, and will never accept any other explanation, no matter how thorough and competent the investigation and analysis.

Like it or not, this is the result of failing to thoroughly check things out. Oh, they "analyzed" this and "concluded" that, but in the end NASA decided to just keep their fingers crossed. They should have checked it out.

[mikrofon]

Finger-pointing is easy, but very counter-productive .... solid fact-finding and lesson-learning from this terrible experience is warranted now.

It was a bit disconcerting that Columbia did not have EVA suits on-board, or that NASA has no facility for in-space inspection of the state of the craft, but I don't think they purposely deprive the crews of such equipment or deliberately would put them in harm's way.

[NJJ]

You should check out Drudge he is slamming NASA

I had him on while reading these posts but I couldn't stand him any more and turned him off. Being somewhat familiar with the subject, he's way off base.

I had/have some theories but it's a lot more interesting watching the truth emerge and looking for where it will come from. One of the thoughts is that with all the video on the breakup it should be pretty easy to match the pieces in the video to the debris field and work it backwards to identify the sequence of parts breaking up. There was one large component that separated to the South and sure enough there was a large debris site separated from the general field to the South. I expect that video from different angles (plus possibly radar) could determine if the path is south or just low.

They are also expecting additional "compromised" data for 30(?) more seconds after what we have heard so far. I think NASA is doing a fine job through this whole ordeal. I hate to see Drudge and people that are not knowledgeable stir up the politicos and waste more time and money.

[altayann]

And finally, said hacker probably would have destroyed the shuttle during the launch, not afterwards.

[Howlin]

I'm waiting for your facts. We all are.

Accidents do just happen, you numbskull. And no, there's not always a cause. Stuff happens.

[Luis Gonzalez]

There's a whole lot of old hardware floating around up there, what are the chances?

[Howlin]

I hate to see Drudge and people that are not knowledgeable stir up the politicos and waste more time and money.

Well, you have come to the wrong thread then........LOL.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Yoiu think Todd is putting together his findings and gathering his proof for us?

[Lancey Howard]

Since this is kind of your "field," if you will, dare I even say that two accidents in over thirty years is a good record?

It's not good enough. It is too early to tell with the Columbia disaster, but the Challenger disaster was a nightmare of incompetence, negligence and carelessness. Totally avoidable.

[A Citizen Reporter]

Well, I'm certainly waiting.....

Foot <--------------tap, tap, tap........

[Howlin]

Oh, I'm postive he is.

[TLBSHOW]

You see if I gave a darn about everytime I am mocked by the likes of you few posters here who I call thread nannies. Who are people that can't give an opinion that will either be right or wrong in the end, I would never ever post here again! You see my opinions and thoughts are more correct than not and that is why I have no fear to give one.

I have asked Howlin for her opinion but she can't do it because she is afraid it will be wrong and so she plays it safe by being a thread nanny trying to shout down those that do. Pretty funny!