Did environmentalism bring down Columbia?(engineer pleaded for presidential order to halt flights)

worldnetdaily ^ | 2/3/2993 | Joseph Farah

[RichardW]

Sounds plausible to me.

[HELLRAISER II]

The environmentalists don't give a $hit whether or not their suggested changes caused the crash or not just so long as some owl or minnow was saved, the astronauts on the other hand were/are expendable in their eyes.

[TLBSHOW]

August 25, 2002

Office of the President of the United States
Mr. George W. Bush
Subject: Executive Order for a Moratorium on Space Shuttle Flight
Mr. President,
I am a recently retired NASA aerospace engineer and it is my duty to inform you that our space shuttle astronauts are in eminent danger. Your intervention is required to prevent another catastrophic space shuttle accident. NASA management and the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel have failed to respond to the growing warning signs of another shuttle accident. Since 1999 the launch system has experienced the following potential disastrous occurrences:
July 1999 - Space Shuttle Columbia delayed by hydrogen leak.
December 1999 - Space Shuttle Discovery was grounded with damaged wiring, contaminated engine, dented fuel line, and paper work errors.
January 2000 - Space Shuttle Endeavor is delayed because of wiring and computer failures.
March 2000 - Space Shuttle Atlantis main engine must be replaced because of paperwork errors.
August 2000 - Inspection of Space Shuttle Columbia reveals 3,500 defects in wiring. Wiring defects plague entire fleet.
October 2000 - The 100th flight of the space shuttle was delayed because of a misplaced safety pin and concerns with the external tank.
April 2001 - NASA failed to keep adequate watch on safety operations of a major contractor.
July 2002 - The inspector general reports that space shuttle safety program not properly managed.
April 2002 - Hydrogen leak forces scrub of the Atlantis flight.
August 2002 - Shuttle launch system grounded after fuel line cracks are discovered in all the fleet!
Mr. President, as you are painfully aware NASA management has been lacking for a number of years. Unfortunately, your new NASA Administrator has failed to recognize the eminent space shuttle danger and has accepted the consul of the pre-existing NASA shuttle management. These managers still pursue a management philosophy that has stagnated the safety upgrades efforts and perpetuates the staggering launch costs.
The space shuttle or any space transportation vehicle without crew escape modules will never be safe to transport humans. To incorporate crew escape modules in the space shuttle requires that the piloting function be removed from the vehicle. Unfortunately, the background of the shuttle management is that of former flight controllers and astronauts. They have been trained to never trust automated flight control systems. Therefore, they are adamantly opposed to automation of the space shuttle. Efforts by NASA engineers and contractors to automate the shuttles are met with stern rebukes and reprimands in some cases.
Mr. President, to prevent another shuttle disaster it is requested that an Executive Order be issued that places a moratorium on space shuttle operations. This moratorium must limit shuttle missions to flight crews that do not exceed four members. The moratorium must remain in effect until crew escape modules can be incorporated.
This moratorium will serve as a catalyst to kick-start the resisting NASA management into action. The lives of our astronauts and the future of our space program must not be ignored. The warning from the Thiokol engineer was ignored and the Challenger exploded. The terrorist training warning from FBI agents was ignored and we had the 9-11 disaster. When the next shuttle explodes...and Murphy’s Law says it will, we can exclaim with pride a loud "YES!" as the crew escape module carries our astronauts to safety... or if this moratorium is ignored...we can watch in horror and shame as the astronauts face certain death.

Don A. Nelson
Retired NASA Aerospace Engineer


Reply from the President's OSTP: "I do not think that it is appropriate for the President to issue a moratorium on

Space Shuttle launches at this time" Dec. 4 2002.

Comment: Dec. 12, 2002 another Shuttle propellant leak found!

Don A. Nelson

NASAProblems.com

http://www.nasaproblems.com/

[TLBSHOW]

the letter and reply

[TLBSHOW]

the information is all out there as you know from the other night here at FR

[Marauder]

There should be hell to pay if envirowacks and their "pet peeves" caused the tragic deaths of seven of the world's most brilliant and accomplished people.

[Fred Mertz]

In a letter to the White House, Don Nelson, who served with NASA for 36 years until he retired in 1999, wrote to President George W. Bush warning that his "intervention" was necessary to "prevent another catastrophic space shuttle accident."

Too bad that Don Nelson's warning letter apparently fell on deaf ears.

[steve in DC]

The environmentalists don't give a $hit whether or not their suggested changes caused the crash or not just so long as some owl or minnow was saved, the astronauts on the other hand were/are expendable in their eyes.

It's actually not even that simple. EPA folks are largely mid-level types with no practical understanding of materials and process engineering. They make vague pronouncements about material substuitution and then require industries to simply prove their cockamamie opinions and platitudes incorrect.

[TLBSHOW]

Reply from the President's OSTP:

"I do not think that it is appropriate for the President to issue a moratorium on

[Mo1]

Just a little over a minute into Columbia's launch Jan. 16, a chunk of insulating foam peeled away from the external fuel tank and smashed into the left wing, which like the rest of the shuttle is covered with tiles to protect the ship from the extreme heat of re-entry into the atmosphere

I think it is important to investigate this foam issue

But has it been determined wheather it was foam or ice that fell off??

[TLBSHOW]

Did you see the picture with the rip?

[Mo1]

What picture??

[TLBSHOW]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/834673/posts?page=

[John W]

Does he mean "eminent" the two places in the letter he uses the word?Not trying to be a pain here,but,misuse of the language tends to reduce my respect for people who are making expert commentary.If this is proper use,then,I stand corrected.

[TLBSHOW]

PING

[Miss Marple]

The correct word should be "imminent," meaning close at hand.

"Eminent" means exalted and/or important.

You are correct about usage and the impression it leaves on others.

[Mo1]

where did that picture come from .. that is the first I have ever seen that

[1rudeboy]

Dude, that's not a picture of a wing.

[Salvation]

I just read this story. Unbelievable!

My computer has been down so that's why I haven't been pestering everyone. Ha!