[Sacajaweau]

Is that our big shortcoming??...no exterior cameras.

The entire exterior should be able to be photographed from the ship and be transmitted back. We certainly have that technology..Yes???

[bribriagain]

thoughts?

[Lurking2Long]

Unfortunately, it was a shortcoming that cost them their lives...

[1Old Pro]

The entire exterior should be able to be photographed from the ship and be transmitted back. We certainly have that technology..Yes???

Sure, a manually contolled little robotic/flying/camera with tiny "jets" to allow it to be flown all around the shuttle and inspect it from top to bottom.

[NCC-1701]

Columbia was equipped with an infared camera pod on the top of the verticle fin/rudder. If the remainig fleet were so equipped, only with a high-res camera, possibly with a wide-angle lens, maybe the post-launch video review could show if something went wrong. If not, the views of asscent and/or re-entry would prove to be very interesting. Also put one on the external tank for the same reasons.