Posted on 02/17/2003 1:04:35 PM PST by brityank
The whole purpose of the Crater simulation was to estimate gouging of the tiles. If it was over-predicting penetration depths, it should have been replaced by a better, more-accurate simulation. If you're going to ignore its results, why have it?
I've seen it estimated that the impact speed was around 570MPH for the ~2.5 pound block of 'foam'. Check out this thread.
First, let me say that NASA should dump the "environmentally-friendly" solvents, adhesives, and aerating-agents and go back to the old ones which actually worked. We should use the best available technology on the shuttle, not the best "Politically Correct" technology. That's a given.
Then, we FReepers should all take a deep breath, a long exhale, and acknowledge that there are several other possible explanations for the burnthrough and breakup of Columbia.
We know [?] it was the heaviest shuttle re-entry yet.
We have the "yellow ice" theory where a big chunk of ice might have formed on the urine dump port as it has at least twice in the past, then broken off and impacted the left wing at retro-fire.
Just revealed was the solar flare which hit the ionosphere just as Columbia was at entry interface. Scientists Seek Clues in Solar Storm That Enveloped Shuttle.
Also just revealed was the fact that there was a modification made to the leading edges of Columbia's wings made at Palmdale in 1999. We haven't heard much about that...yet, but I am very interested in finding out what that was all about. Was there a problem with the RCC leading edge that needed fixing? Something that was not revealed to the Astronaut community? Officials Eye Columbia's Last Overhaul
WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Increased drag -- possibly caused by roughness on Columbia's left wing identified years ago and worsened by time and debris -- may have been enough to pull the shuttle into a fatal sideways flight angle on re-entry, experts have told United Press International.
Dr. Intriligator and other scientists who have seen the data describe the phenomenon as a sort of gigantic wave of electrically charged particles, magnetic fields and radiation that was moving toward Earth at roughly 400 miles a second."It is a disturbance, a discontinuity, and it did deliver a punch," Dr. Intriligator said.
So far, a NASA spokesman said, nothing in the abnormal readings sent to the ground from the wounded craft suggested that its catastrophic loss began with an electrical jolt. But he would not rule it out.
Plasma is both a gas and an electrical charge, and can be affected by gravity, magnetism, and electrical potentials. This 'minor' emmision might have been small by comparison with others, but combined ... .
Perhaps combined with this mysterious "aerodynamic transisiton"? Exclusive: Did rough wing break Columbia? (their title, not mine)
At least twice before, as Columbia returned to Earth from missions, its left wing experienced a critical aerodynamic shift too early -- prematurely increasing heating and drag on that wing, former shuttle commander Navy Capt. Robert (Hoot) Gibson, now retired, told UPI.
This is where questions need to be asked: Was there really NOTHING that could be done? Well, the answer could be "yes, nothing." But I still suspect there was a failure to think outside the box, and a particular reluctance to consider any option that would involve purposely trashing a shuttle.
If you are driving your auto, and hear a thumping sound, what do you do? You stop, get out, and take a look. So why did nobody, but nobody, in NASA think of asking one of the astronauts to get out and take a look? And take a picture, maybe?
An emergency EVA can be done in 2 hours flat, if you throw away the 90% of the checklist that isn't safety critical. That gives you hard data 1000% better than anything a ground-based telescope can give you, and 10,000% better than a computer simulation whose results were thrown away anyway.
So now you know the extent of the problem. If the shuttle can't safely reenter, you have 15 days to come up with a Plan B. Instead, NASA spent those 15 days arguing around vast quantities of useless data, and finally deciding to cross their fingers and hope for the best.
Freepers, this is an immense tragedy. It is not just the end of seven brave lives; it is the end of the US manned presence in space. You know, as I know, that the shuttle will never fly again.
Prove it !!
You don't just pop on your overcoat and walk out the door. You need a self-contained unit; the only ones they carried on this mission were umbilical-attached suits to allow access to close the payload doors manually, if required.
Learn the basics, then come back.
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