BREAKING: NBC News finds Jan 30 NASA Memo showing serious concern about tile damage!

NBC News | February 3, 2003 | Jay Barbree

[Timesink]

Developing. Watch MSNBC for latest. Internal memo shows some engineers believe there was up to a 7 1/2-inch gash from the foam breakoff at launch. Memo was serious enough to go out to all NASA centers two days before disaster.

[john316]

I can't think of any way this could be an actual image. The pictures taken by they crew are not normaly digital, the scale is all wrong, no tiles are seen, and furthmore there are now windows that could show that angle. The affore mentioned arguments are only what I can remember from working systems management and payload software about 17 years ago.

[mabelkitty]

Thanks! I'm trying to spread the word as I remember it when I worked there in 1993.

I'm getting kinda paranoid....

[Timesink]

What Barbree said and what MSNBC anchors (and IMUS), imply by their questions, are two different things.

Yes, let's all keep in mind that Barbree's an expert, while the MSNBC anchors and Imus don't know any more about the shuttle program than any of us (excepting the several true NASA Freepers that we have, of course).

[TLBSHOW]

This launch should of been halted!~

[1Old Pro]

Sadly...even if true, there is almost nothing that could have been done once launched. I hope we can learn for the future.

Probably true, getting another shuttle up there for a transfer would have had a time problem. If NASA believed there may have been a problem, then why didn't they have made a serious attempt to photograph its re-entry?

[PBRSTREETGANG]

There is a huge amount that could have been done.

Really? Such as?

[not-alone]

Isn't it possible that the rescue craft could be damaged by same problem on launch and then they would have twice the problem? Plus safety problems of rushing a launch, I have faith they would have done anything possible and lots of monday quarterbacking going on.

[HairOfTheDog]

I am not in charge but I see major problems at NASA for years!

Space flight is a major problem. Doing anything new and very complex is a major problem. Difference between you and them is that they have the job of actually solving those problems. and your point?

[TLBSHOW]

BTTT

[Rome2000]

Jay Barbree emphasizes that there would still have been nothing that could have been done

Thats BS.

They could have went to the ISS and waited for another shuttle to take them back.

[Fitzcarraldo]

I don't know why they didn't listen to you when you called them with this answer to everything.

Respectfully, nobody informed the American public on this problem in a timely manner.

You can be assured that I would have contacted the authorities.

[BureaucratusMaximus]

My point being is chill out until ALL the facts are in before you go attacking NASA

ALL the facts? You're kidding right? We'll all be waiting for ALL the facts for a very long time, if ever. What dreamworld are you living in?

[TLBSHOW]

POINT IS

THIS FLIGHT SHOULD NOT OF HAPPENED TO START WITH

[PBRSTREETGANG]

They could have went to the ISS and waited for another shuttle to take them back

No, they could not.

[Dave S]

Why isn't the entire Orbiter's belly ONE PIECE??

Probably because then they would have to replace the entire Shuttle each flight. Now they just have to replace some of the tiles.

[Mo1]

ALL the facts? You're kidding right? We'll all be waiting for ALL the facts for a very long time, if ever

Let's see, This happpen on Saturday??

Yep, that sure is a long time

[Mamzelle]

No pictures, no proof. See no evil.

[Stingray51]

The operative time for getting the next shuttle ready to launch was not just prior to the reentry attempt, it was the same day the Columbia was launched. That would have left at least four weeks.

There seems to be a cadre of posters who is dismissive of any suggestion that the problem could have been addressed. Maybe so and maybe not, but we are not going to know either way for some time and relying on self-serving statements by NASA administrators that nothing could have been done is just as irresponsible as assuming it could.

[Ramtek57]

Just think, if the astronauts were notified that a lot of damage MAY HAVE occured and that it MAY NOT be safe to use Columbia to return to earth, they would have want to try to do something other than burning up in the atmosphere. NASA didn't give them a choice. They probably would have tried to do a spacewalk and determine the damage. They would have liked to had somebody rescue them or head over to the space station and throw a rope over since they couldn't dock and use space suits to get to the station. Hell, anything is better than dying.

[snopercod]

My question is: Was Columbia's crew told about this?

In the NASA press conference yesterday, they said "Yes, they were told of the debris striking the shuttle, and that they thought it was not a concern."