AGENCY REDOING EARLY REVIEW THAT DISMISSED DAMAGE

bayarea ^ | 2/4/2003 | Martin Merzer, Phil Long and Sumana Chatterjee

[TLBSHOW]

CANAVERAL, Fla. - A nearly 2-foot-long chunk of debris that peeled off space shuttle Columbia's external fuel tank and struck the left wing during blastoff Jan. 16 is the most likely cause of the calamity that destroyed the shuttle and killed all seven astronauts, NASA officials said Monday.

[TheDon]

Yes, unfortunately, the tin foil crowd smells blood so they are out in force. But, I think in this case there is something that doesn't smell right. This based strictly on the comments of Dittemore.

[mewzilla]

Could you check your FReep mail when you get a chance? (I left my asbestos unmentionables at the cleaners.)

[mewzilla]

Just out of curiosity, did you read the report the Rogers Commission produced after the Challenger disaster? I did. And it left an impression. If things have changed since then (besides better PR), then I'll be a happy camper. But they're going to have to prove it. And what I've sees so far doesn't make me happy.

[CWOJackson]

I not too concerned with that yet.

If Dittemore has gotten five hours of sleep since this happened I would be surprised. He's probably still trying to come to grips with this disaster, and the death of his friends, like everyone else, while they try to piece together what exactly happened, are trying to take care of families, trying to respond to demands from the press, etc.

I would be far more worried if his story didn't change because that would be symptomatic of coming up with an excuse and sticking to it.

My post was inspired by the multiple and disgusting posts being made here on FR, many within a couple of hours of the disaster, that are pure speculation and being passed off as fact. There's one prolific poster who keeps posting the same bogus photo's on different threads claiming it's evidence of massive wing damage; only to have it refutted and moving on to a new thread to post the same pictures again.

My post was intended as a call for sanity. Let's not rush to judgement based on the rantings of a few unhinged individuals who claim to know the truth. We will get to the truth, but people like them, starting their harmful rumors, will not make that job easier.

[TLBSHOW]

http://news.google.com/news?q=nasa+memo%3B+shuttle&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&sa=N&tab=nn

[TLBSHOW]

thanks and I am working on it.

[TLBSHOW]

the truth is simple I already posted it to you.

[bvw]

Arrrggh! You've turned into a POSTING-BOT!

[DoughtyOne]

True, it wasn't you and I.

[BlackbirdSST]

Do you actually believe that you and TBLSHOW know more then the astronauts themselves....?

That would evidently be the case. I can only speak for myself, when I say, a proverbial brick hit the wing during launch, not a fake proverbial brick, but a real one. Like I said earlier, any 1st year Engineering student would have looked at that harder. Frankly slick, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to be an astronaut, lest we forget, we used to send monkey's to do this kind of thing. As for the rest of your diatribe, it's not worth the effort. Your belly is full from the table scraps, so you'll evidently tow the line regardless of the obvious. For the record, being a former aviator, I can make my observations with a skilled objectiveness, I've grounded aircraft for less!!! The Shuttle is a over priced POS. Blackbird.

[TomB]

Frankly slick, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to be an astronaut, lest we forget, we used to send monkey's to do this kind of thing.

Monkeys used to fly the Shuttle? When was that?

As for the rest of your diatribe, it's not worth the effort

Judging from the monkey comment, it isn't worth the thought either.

[Xenalyte]

In an extraordinarily frank statement, he cast doubt on the NASA engineers' post-launch studies. "When we wrote the report," Dittemore said, "I'm not sure we knew what we were talking about."

Refreshingly straight talk, or unbelievable admission? What say y'all?

[Bacon Man]

Refreshingly straight talk, or unbelievable admission? What say y'all?

Sounds like both to me.

[BlackbirdSST]

Yea, you gotta hate when the fingers don't do what the brain is thinking, what I meant to say, we used to TRAIN Monkey's to do this kind of thing (and yes we did), not necessarily the shuttle (but since 90% +,- is all Computer Controlled, why not the Shuttle), so don't get too wise on me, but space flight in general. I think you would be able to reason through my comment's to the logical conclusion, guess I was wrong. The point still stand's, but for my punishment, I'll stand in the corner! Duly chastised, waiting for the crow to finish baking, etc etc etc....It doesn't pay to rant, when you should be working! shhhh! Blackbird.

[BlackbirdSST]

At least I'm not a cut/paste troll! Blackbird.

[CWOJackson]

Well blackbird, there's hope for you yet. If NASA ever does decide to return to using lower primates in their program hopefully they will keep you in mind. You would probably stand a pretty good chance at selection unless they use chimps. A decent would probably make you look bad.

[BlackbirdSST]

Wow, what a witty response, I know when I'm out of my league. How'd you do that without the cut/paste? Spare me troll! Blackbird.

[CWOJackson]

Without cut and paste, simple, you are an excellent inspiration, and when you brought up the subject of chimps pushing buttons I couldn't help but think of you at your keyboard.

[BlackbirdSST]

Your wit is just razor sharp. I knew a number of CWO's with the same style of wit, one smarta$$ response after another with nothing really intelligent to add. Try again? Blackbird.

[CWOJackson]

Great. I knew a few folks like you. They emptied my trash can daily.