[DoughtyOne]

One very valid reason is that not all shuttle missions fly in a parallel orbit with the ISS. Thus the shuttle would have to not only change direction, but altitude as well. It simply isn't possible to always plan for a docking. I back NASA on that.

[xzins]

I understand that every system on the Shuttle has a backup....except for the entire system.

The ISS and/or a backup, rescue shuttle would provide a backup.

[Ronin]

You may be right on that point, but we had at least 3 possibilities that could have been explored. The ISS, waiting for Atlantis, or asking the Russians to send up a couple of empty Soyuz. Now, maybe for a variety of reasons none of those options would have been doable, but I want to hear them say it.

I also want to hear them explain, if none of those three options were possible, WHY they didn't make a contingency plan that would have included at least one of them before sending Columbia into orbit.

What bothers me about this whole thing is the way everyone is/has been preaching this "they were doomed from the moment the debris hit" line. I don't buy that at all.

There is a LOT to this accident that stinks and I think heads should roll!

[NightWriter]

<< I have just one question for Dan Goldin...etc. >>

Goldin left NASA in November, 2001, and was replaced by Sean O'Keefe in December, 2001.