Live Thread: NASA PRESS CONFERENCE

http://www.freerepublic.com ^ | February 3, 2002

[Howlin]

NASA press conference today........in 15 minutes!

[Darlin']

Exactly ! Honestly, think I'm gonna buy some stock in Reynolds Wrap, clearly they're selling a ton of it.

[Cboldt]

The point of my original message, that you and I are discussing, was to give more specific definition to the term "coming apart" or "break up". Many people were using those terms loosely, and arguing, and it is my continuing impression there are many ongoing arguments over semantics rather than talking substance.

That problem can be solved by saying more precisely, what one means. For example, NASA is saying that it is possible (but they don't know) that parts of the shuttle came off over CA, and that this set in motion a chain of events that ended over TX.

Now, some people here say the shuttle started to "break up" over CA, and voila, argument ensues between that person, and another who insists that break-up was over TX, and they never explain what they mean.

Anyway, you and I are in agreement.

[Miss Marple]

I think it is interesting that women are always accused of being irrational and emotional, and yet we have boatloads of examples of MEN going off on emotional tirades on this issue, as well as many others.

I have a degree in geology, which also required physics, chemistry, and advanced math. I am quite capable of understanding evidence as opposed to tin-foil conspiracy crap. I am major-league PO'd at quite a few people posting, ALL OF WHOM ARE MEN.

[OXENinFLA]

I have a theory.

I've seen the 16sec video of the Foam hitting on the Accent and exploding on impact.

How much of a gap is there between the tiles?
I'm sure they have to have some tolerances for thermal expansion.

When the Foam struck the wing at that speed it went PUFFFF.
Is it possible that some little bits of foam got embedded in the tiny cracks in-between the tiles and stayed until the shuttle came in for reentry.

So what would happen to that bit of foam when it hit 3000 deg F? Just to take a guess I'll say it melts. Would it be possible for that hot liquid foam to get behind the tiles and to come (for lack of better term) unglued and start a chain reaction?

Comments Please..

[Miss Marple]

I think you have a plausible idea. I would encourage you to e-mail NASA.

[OXENinFLA]

Got there E-mail?

[NELSON111]

If the tiles were the problem in some way...then some tiles will be found in CA and AZ, NM, and west TX...especially if there was a zipper effect. If you lose a tile...then two...then three...over a large area....then this is important. If it was this problem...then by the time you get to texas...the damage is done and structural problems are taking place. I am not sure of time line...but the off-scale low on the tire...etc...might have occured when south of NV...which would explain the puff (maybe the tire blew?). The reason all the tiles are in the area they are is this is the trajectory when the orbitor came apart. If problems atarted showing up at 0752 CST...then this means there was something going on when it was still west of CA .

[Darlin']

Tes, indeed, the same here. Excellant points.

[Chesterbelloc]

When they showed the video they said it was taken from Nevada. The sky was twilight in the video and it was still dark here up in the Sierras, so they probably labeled where it was filmed correctly.

It happened to the east of me, so I didn't see it from my vantage point, but even if I had I, I don't think I would have thought much of it. Maybe something like that always happens when the shuttle descends to a certain point in the atmosphere. I'll leave it to the experts to decide if it is meaningful or meaningless.

[PhiKapMom]

I'll leave it to the experts to decide if it is meaningful or meaningless.

My sentiments exactly! That's what you have an Accident Investigation for is to let the experts pour over all the data, film, etc. As they say, it is above my pay grade -- this time by a lot!

[Frank_Discussion]

Ditto.

(And, Mrs. M, you're doing fine, and I certainly don't have issues with your technical acumen. Getting emotional during this discussion is okay in any event, since some folks are trying to make it personal. Those folks could calm down. Maybe those folks are reading this...)

[Trust but Verify]

This is what I believe Dittemore was saying in the press conference. They have a team working on the problem of trying to localize where any tiles that stripped off the orbiter in the CA/AZ/NM area may have ended up so they can mount a search for them. A lot of factors to be considered including altitude, speed, weight of the tile and wind speed and direction, but they may be able to come up with a corridor to search in.

[NELSON111]

MSNBC says piece of debrise found in Pheonix AZ.

[Chad Fairbanks]

No problem -- I just didn't want what the press was reporting "feet" to be picked up by our tinfoil hat crowd here!

I'm sorry, could you repeat that? ;0)

[Trust but Verify]

If true, it would be a really big break for the investigation. Would that be anywhere near the flight path, though?

[Miss Marple]

Thank you. Lack of logic and hysteria don't help trying to solve the problem.

Well, I am going to see what other information is available before making a judgement on this.

And you know what else? Sometimes people are just going to make mistakes. They are human beings, not robots, and they can just goof up. I think this is important to remember as our military is deployed. Mistakes happen, and although they are regrettable, no one is consciously trying to cause harm.

[Frank_Discussion]

ZOINKS!

[Chesterbelloc]

--Would that be anywhere near the flight path, though?


Ground track was here:

http://spaceflight/nasa.gov/realdata/groundtracs/

It deorbited on Orbit 255 - the top row of charts. I can't get to the site now and I'm not sure if they took it down or it is just because it is getting too many hits.

Looking at the printout I have, it looks like the shuttle went through the north-east area of Arizona.

[Joe Hadenuf]

I don't quite understand all the arguing about whether the shuttle developed problems at launch, initial reentry into the atmosphere, or at a lower altitude further south and east as it headed for it's final destination in Florida.

At least one California and others in Nevada have offered fairly credible observations of what was thought were something out of the ordinary. Time will tell, as the investigation continues.

It seems some here want to eliminate any other ideas and appear to be predisposed, or biased towards what they believe or have heard.

It’s early on in the investigation, and even the experts are speculating, and weighing different ideas and theories while collecting evidence.

It seems the same folks on almost all these threads regarding this tragedy appear to have a wolf pack mentality and resort to name calling etc, if anyone offers information they have heard about, or maybe just someone speculating about early reports.

This in my opinion, has really scarred and tainted some of these threads regarding the space shuttle tragedy. And I would guess that this bickering has really turned off more than a few readers and is very distracting.

[Howlin]

I'm interested in the facts; I'm not interested in what somebody THINKS they saw.

Nor am I interested in people who say it was ON FIRE as it came over Califorina and exploded.