[TheDon]

Did Nasa know about this and therefore kept their silence, not telling the astronauts?

From Dittemore's (sp) statements alone one can infer that to be the case.

Are these the type of threads that keep getting yanked?

[JudyB1938]

It's one way to post ignorant things; it's another to post an article with info of genuine concern.

It could be that the people involved had on blinders and didn't take what they saw seriously. If that is the case, procedures need to be examined to preclude future incidents of this nature. If it's not the case, then the public needs to be reassured. People are talking, and people are wondering. Keeping them in dark is not the best way to go.

[dirtboy]

Are these the type of threads that keep getting yanked?

Depends on whether the B.S. being posted warrants extensive refutation. All they need to make this farce complete is for Tourist Guy to be riding on the wing like Dr. Strangelove.