Vultures Around Shuttle Cause Flap

Cox News Service ^ | Andrew Marra

[beyond the sea]

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — When a vulture had the misfortune to glide over the rocketing space shuttle Discovery during its launch last year, there was no doubt about who would win.

But the bird became more than a splat on a fuel tank: It kick-started an entire movement.

Although the vulture didn't damage the shuttle, NASA officials are worried enough about another big-bird incident that they are trying several unorthodox schemes to keep the carrion-eaters from the launch pad during Saturday's scheduled liftoff.

Methods like removing dead animals from the area. And luring dozens of vultures into a cage. Officials even tried blasting gunshot sounds from giant speakers.

What's more, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is testing a special "avian radar" designed to detect approaching birds before liftoff.

"We're concerned about the birds flying above the shuttle," said Jeff Spaulding, a NASA test director. "A vulture is a pretty large bird, so it does give us some concern. Especially if it hits a sensitive area."

It's often hard for NASA officials to talk about their vulture problems with straight faces, but they say the fundamental issue is serious. They point out that the piece of falling foam that damaged and doomed the Columbia weighed less than 2 pounds, or about half the weight of a typical vulture.

"These are 4- to 6-pound birds," said John Shannon, deputy manager of NASA's space shuttle program. "We laugh about it, but it's a serious risk."

Vultures are nothing new to the Kennedy Space Center. NASA's launch pad is situated on a large national wildlife refuge, where birds of prey are common. But it's only in the last year that space center officials have paid this much attention to them.

[beyond the sea]

Although the vulture didn't damage the shuttle, NASA officials are worried enough about another big-bird incident that they are trying several unorthodox schemes to keep the carrion-eaters from the launch pad during Saturday's scheduled liftoff. Methods like removing dead animals from the area. And luring dozens of vultures into a cage. Officials even tried blasting gunshot sounds from giant speakers.

Play Hillary's "I'm sick and tired ............. " speech......... they'll leave immediately.

;-)

[edpc]

Birdstrike risks aside.....it's a pretty foreboding sight when you're a crewmember. It doesn't exactly instill confidence.

[beyond the sea]

Sound: "I'm sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and disagree with this administration, somehow you're not patriotic. We need to stand up and say we're Americans, and we have the right to debate and disagree with any administration."

Visual: Vultures leaving pronto!

[Begin]

Vultures

You mean the Press?

[beyond the sea]

Birdstrike risks aside.....it's a pretty foreboding sight when you're a crewmember. It doesn't exactly instill confidence.

Foreshadowing?

[beyond the sea]

Vultures ....... You mean the Press?

That's exactly what I was thinking -- that or the Democrats AND the Press when the deaths incurred in Iraq hit a nice round number that they find convenient.

[driftdiver]

They are actualy turkey buzzards and are quite common here in Florida.

[edpc]

Exactly....but I hope not.

[edpc]

I am not suprises.....with all those old folks in Florida, the vultures are probably antsy.

;-)

[Caipirabob]

But the bird became more than a splat on a fuel tank: It kick-started an entire movement.

A fitting end for the NYT reporter.

[driftdiver]

They kinda freaked me out when I first moved here. Had a big ole dead tree across the street that always had 3-4 buzzards in it watching as you stepped out in the morning.

Road kill doesn't last long as they keep the streets pretty clean. The buzzards do I mean, not the old people.

[Westlander]

Condor 1, eagle 2, turkey vulture 3. Size/weight rating.

[tcostell]

I shot a 96 this weekend, so I'll be happy to take care of it for the price of 10 boxes of number 4 shotgun shells. (Seems about the right size to me for shooting vulture since they are more or less turkey sized....thoughts?)

[hadaclueonce]

a 22/250 when they are setting, poof, no more problem.

[HankReardon]

All they need to do is create a circumference of dead animals 3 miles from the launch.

[HankReardon]

Where did you live that you didn't see buzzards?

[reagan_fanatic]

Play Hillary's "I'm sick and tired ............. " speech......... they'll leave immediately

Trouble is, that would make everyone leave, including the Astronauts and NASA personnel.

[Osage Orange]

I.R.S. agents on vacation?

[Calvin Locke]

I think you're on to something. Shrillary has one of those voices that put me on edge, in general.

Since I can't fly away, I change the offending station, or turn off the radio/tv.