BREAKING: NBC News finds Jan 30 NASA Memo showing serious concern about tile damage!

NBC News | February 3, 2003 | Jay Barbree

[Timesink]

Developing. Watch MSNBC for latest. Internal memo shows some engineers believe there was up to a 7 1/2-inch gash from the foam breakoff at launch. Memo was serious enough to go out to all NASA centers two days before disaster.

[need_a_screen_name]

It was widely reported yesterday that NASA's budget was severely gutted during the Clinton administration. I believe it was reported that President Bush increased NASA's budget (but the phone rang and I missed that section). Additionally President Bush has had his hands full since 9/11.

I heard the part about Clinton, and at least when I heard "someone" saying something, they went on to say that things got no better under Bush. Maybe we saw different programs....

[csvset]

Re : And for all you who think Nasa could have done something lets go through possible scenarios....:

NASA Options to Save Doomed Columbia Vary

[Timesink]

There are two bright lights in a dark sky...suddenly, the one that is following looks as if it suffers an explosion and then you can see a contrail. Did anyone else see the report who can explain it to me?

My barely-informed speculation would be simply that some piece of the shuttle broke off and thus of course, immediately lost most of its forward thrust and ended up behind the rest of the craft.

[Quilla]

I would imagine there is such an option as you mentioned. Yet, looking at the photo, it appears that the shuttle was past the earth's atmosphere.

[szweig]

Yep...gash will get you into trouble every time.

[DCPatriot]

How in the hell...after all these advances in technology, are the insulation tiles *STILL* glued on with silicone?

Why isn't the entire Orbiter's belly ONE PIECE??

[djf]

I wouldn't go so far as to call it negligence. Even educated, informed people can disagree about whether something is a serious problem or not.
But I, like many others, are frustrated by the "We couldn't fix it so why bother" attitude. These are guys that could do pre-natal heart surgery on a goat in orbit around Saturn, fer cryin out loud. They routinely do significant, complex repairs on HST.

[rs79bm]

Yes, I saw a report of an amatuer photographer taking pictures of what he explained as: "L-shaped lightning bolts coming from the back of the shuttle". Obviously, this indicates a major heat-related problem. Of course, if there was tile damage of any sort, it would have caused the orbiter to improperly absorb the heat upon re-entry.

[Iwentsouth]

In this case they didn't know until after they reviewed the tapes of the launch. That was the next day so too late.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

This may sound like a very stupid question, and I don't believe blame can/should be put on anyone. Things happen. But could the shuttle have stayed at the space station and another be sent with something to repair it with, before trying to come back. Have I been watching too much Star Trek? Is something like that possible yet?

Becky

[TLBSHOW]

It should never of even gone up that is the bottom line. There was warnings before.

[al_c]

Nope. Not possible.

Why not? Was Columbia not fitted with the right connections or something?

[Lee'sGhost]

That's the kind of thing I was wondering. They have a "life boat" Russian vehicle on the space station as well. Seems that there could have been serveral different rescue senarios that could have been attempted if there was a decission that the Columbia wasn't space worthy. Leaving it in space would have been tough, but we know the alternative outcome.

I'm not arm chair quarterbacking, I'm simply asking questions based on new information. Bottom line is, IF NASA knew there was significant damage, the posing of possibilities and the opportunity for finger pointing are self inflicted.

And before anyone asks, I totally support having a space program, think the shuttle program has outlived it's time and needs to be mondernized from the ground up, and believe we should be mounting a mission to Mars right now.

[anniegetyourgun]

True. All the pre-launch analysis would still be there if this crew had returned safely. In fact, the guy who 'wrote to the President' about all this is undoubtedly not the first guy to end-run NASA to plead for funding. It's very sad.

[BureaucratusMaximus]

But I, like many others, are frustrated by the "We couldn't fix it so why bother" attitude. These are guys that could do pre-natal heart surgery on a goat in orbit around Saturn, fer cryin out loud. They routinely do significant, complex repairs on HST

You captured my sentiment better than I could articulate...thank you.

[ResistorSister]

OK...sounds good.

I was curious about the video because it seems as if the video was taken while the shuttle was still in space...because the sky is black...and the piece that might have broken-off is as large (it seems from the video) as the shuttle...that was one heck of a big piece that might have broken-off.

[HairOfTheDog]

The only possiblity I've heard of is an emergency spacewalk, and everything I've heard about that is that it would be beyond dangerous, might save the shuttle but cost the life of whichever astronaut went outside...

Actually I think the danger would have been that high, the risk that they themselves would damage it would be high, and all they would have been able to do is stare at the problem, if there was one. They didn't have they ability to fix it.

[TLBSHOW]

This is negligence plain and simple.

BUMP

[krodriguesdc]

if they knew, or even suspected, they should've informed the families instead of getting everyone there only to watch their loved ones die...

this would be inexcusable...

[Dave S]

Another prime example of big government working toward the benefit of us all.

Okay Maximus, with nothing they could do to save the astronauts, did you want NASA to tell them immediately it was a one way trip thus putting a damper over the trip of a lifetime for many of the crew. With no purpose for telling them, I think NASA did the right thing to withhold the information.