[ale] OT: Space Shuttle Columbia

[Jeff Hubbs]

> One thing that you didn't mention and probably did not consider is
> that EVA's are done with no less than two people.  Always have a buddy.

Probably one reason why I did not consider it is because it isn't true. 
Besides, the purpose of doing an EVA at all would have been to ASSESS
DAMAGE FOR DECISION-MAKING PURPOSES, not perform an experiment or prove
a concept.

The Early Soviet and Gemini EVAs were done solo, as were the Apollo CSM
EVAs to retrieve the SAR radar film from the side of the SM.  In the
case of the Gemini EVAs, the second astronaut was suited up but couldn't
go EVA without endangering both astronauts further.  IIRC, this was a
serious issue on Gemini in that Ed White found himself scarcely able to
move or see.  At least one other Gemini EVAer wound up with the same
problem, whereas Aldrin seemed to have an intuitive grasp that the
others lacked.

> Until the exact cause of this accident is determined, any such claim
> holds no water.  You don't know that a lack of safety cost any lives.
> The tile damage that led to the destruction could have been caused by
> debris or even a micrometor - something entirely unpredictable that no
> amount of saftey could prevent, short of not flying at all.
> 
> As armchair quarterbacks, we often don't consider anything except
> the obvious.  In this case, foam insulation seems to be the scapegoat
> of choice.
> 
> I'm saying that additional safety measures or procedural changes
> can not be merely thrown out there as "mandatory" until the cause
> is determined.
> 
> > As 
> > such, I challenge you to sit on your high-horse (as defined by your 
> > previous comment(s)) and tell me otherwise; and I dare you to quantify 
> > your "justification".
> 
> Challenge met.
> 
> Enjoy,
>     - Chuck
> 
> -- 
> "The purpose of encryption is to protect good people
> from bad people, not to protect bad people from the government."
>      Scott McNealy, CEO Sun Microsystems
> "The best way for government to control people is to remain in
>    a constant threat of war." ---Karl Marx
> "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
>    safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Benjamin Franklin


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