[ale] OT: Space Shuttle Columbia

[Geoffrey]

attriel wrote:
>>>The bottom is smooth. Nowhere to hold on/attach to. Adding attachment
>>>points would result in an unacceptable amount of friction at that
>>>point and would likely result in the same thing we saw Saturday.
>>
>>I know that the bottom is smooth.  But, we all know that they've had the
>>MMU for YEARS and it's not very big; why is it not standard equipment?
>>It needs no attachment points.  Barring that, what about slinging some
>>nylon rope.  Why was there no EVA suit?
> 
> 
> B/c the EVA suit is expensive, they weren't using it, and thus there was
> no point in sending it up?  It's also heavy, which makes it stupid to send
> up if they're not using it?

Hmm, seems like they could have used it.  I think that with the problems 
they've had with the tiles, there should have been a plan to repair such 
a problem.

>>I am not satisfied of that.  When you say "any other way," you mean with
>>a normal wheel landing at the Cape or at Edwards.  I am not satisfied
>>that, knowing serious damage was present, that an abnormal re-entry
>>wasn't an option, even if it meant a mid-ocean ditch.  Besides, there
>>are emergency runways all over the world - IIRC, Dobbins is one.
> 
> 
> I think "any other way" meant "they still have to come in through the
> atmosphere and build up a couple hundred degrees of heat which is probably
> what caused it to break this time."

Uh, actually a couple 1000 degrees.  I've seen more then one reference 
to 2000-3000 degrees.

> 
> But why don't you call up NASA and tell them what they're doing wrong.  I
> can get you the phone #'s if you want

Everyone is going to try and second guess it until we know what went 
wrong.  I don't see any problem with a reasonable discussion regarding 
possible solutions.

-- 
Until later: Geoffrey		esoteric at 3times25.net

The latest, most widespread virus?  Microsoft end user agreement.
Think about it...

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