[HairOfTheDog]

Sadly...even if true, there is almost nothing that could have been done once launched. I hope we can learn for the future.

Agreed. All of the carrion birds are screeching and fighting and picking.

Now they found a memo. Of course there was a memo warning of what might happened. *What* pray tell, do we suppose they were talking about when they were meeting on the risk and effects of possible damage? Obviously there were warnings and scenarios discussed, obviously they stewed and figured, and obviously they made a judgment call. Every single decision in this business has serious implications. Sometimes they are right, and sometimes they are wrong. When they are wrong, there is a disaster, but no matter how high-tech, this will always be a very human process, with very human errors.

Those people at NASA have value too. It gives me a vicious pit in my stomach to hear instant know-it-alls on the news and here who not only think they know better, but are willing to destroy the people who really had their heart in this. We ask these folks for their judgment. We ask them to take these risks, and shame on us if we kick them while they are down. We can learn from this without ruining people, I hope they remember that.

[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.

[Mamzelle]

re: *What* pray tell, do we suppose they were talking about when they were meeting on the risk and effects of possible damage? )))

First, take better pictures. Taking better pictures of the possible damage is most certainly doable.

[jeremiah]

Of course they deserve to be questioned and "picked upon by vultures" as you call them. There was another shuttle disaster, and do can you tell me what changes were made? How many of those in command were fired? Demoted? Given reprimands? I believe the answer is none. They threw more noney at the problem, and now have killed another crew. What was the reaction of NASA, when Apollo 13 was in trouble? I don't believe they spouted off that there was nothing that could be done, they got the best minds on the job, worked out a solution, and saved lives. They had 16 days to attempt to solve this problem, presumably they discounted the danger, and rolled the dice so to speak. They deserve much worse than criticism, they deserve to be grilled and if found culpable, fired without compensation. Beyond that, civil liablility wouldn't seem to be out of the question.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Those people at NASA have value too. It gives me a vicious pit in my stomach to hear instant know-it-alls on the news and here who not only think they know better, but are willing to destroy the people who really had their heart in this. We ask these folks for their judgment. We ask them to take these risks, and shame on us if we kick them while they are down. We can learn from this without ruining people, I hope they remember that.

Just as I was reading the first comments on this thread and groaning, I found your post. Thank you for a refreshing, fair, sensible and caring point of view. I could not agree more.

[cajungirl]

I agree with you. If they knew and there was nothing they could do, and we don't know what they could have done, I for one would not want to know if I were onboard,,they came back excited and happy and it happened fast. I know there is a legit difference of opinion on that but I cannot believe that nasa would purposely not do what it could, if there was wsomething to do, no more than I believe the crap people spew about the PResident.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Hair, I say this with all candor and honesty: I'd like to work for you.

You'd make a great boss.