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.

[Howlin]

I have no doubt that this crew could have sustained life in orbit for up to 30 days until rescue

That is not true.

[spectre]

Interesting.

My husband spent his AF career flying in the C-130's. I asked him only ONCE, do they have parachutes to bail out, in case of problems? His answer was NO!

Some things just have to be accepted.

sw

[Focault's Pendulum]

If you think NASA knew that there was a no win situation on returning them safely, do you think they would have let it break up over the US instead of changing the flight path?

This is going to sound cold....but I think NASA had no choice but to roll the dice....and they lost.

[bvw]

The attitude that We, the People, should just shut up and let an elite group of others -- even when they are, genuinely, experts -- make ALL the decisions on our behalf, is a poison to Liberty, and a prelude, if not an admission of a socialist or fascist mindset.

[jammer]

Yes, it is indeed. Sad.

[Howlin]

It's amazing how people are willing to believe the absolute worst of human beings, isn't it?

Just imagine how much "fun" the NASA folks must have had, watching the news that they "knew" all along spread across the world. (For the "dim" in the crowd: that was SARCASM)

[Dave S]

would there have been a reasonable abort option during the take-off

At speeds of upwards of 18,000 mph there is not much time to make such decisions.

[TLBSHOW]

Breakup may have begun above California


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2003/02/03/MN33624.DTL

[Howlin]

If they knew in advance, why not change the course and let it break up over the DEEP ocean so there wouldn't be any proof of what happened at all!

[Howlin]

BTW, I just heard the NBC report. It's INCHES, not feet.

[Karsus]

I am glad that NASA didn't have your attitude during Apollo XIII.

[SarahW]

which is utterly shocking to me.

I can't believe there was NO contigency plan whatsoever for dealing with damaged or missing tiles in critical areas.

One fragile tile snaps off and that all she wrote for crew and ship.

[montag813]

Yeah. That's what it is. Sheer arrogance. They probably got a perverse thrill out of seeing the shuttle disintegrate over Texas.

My "arrogance" comment was reserved for the Challenger "O" ring disgrace, where there were clear, unequivocal warnings from the contractor and recommendations that the mission be aborted. Do you not think those who ignored the please should have done jail time? I do, just as I think should doctors who inflict negligence resulting in death. I see no difference. Do you?

[need_a_screen_name]

You mean to tell me that you have never heard of space walks?

Please pay attention to what is posted on this thread.

It is you that is not paying attention.... I was simply responding to the someone who said there is no Triple A in space and that any repairs on any mission would be out. During future mission things like cutting replacement tiles to fit might be a possibilty. It is either that or face the alternative... and we all know what might be....

[Mamzelle]

I said almost a month.

re: A month? None of the shuttles can stay up there that long without supplies and fuel. That's one. Two, it takes longer than a month to prep a rocket)))

The Russians launched one today.

The question that's most interesting to me right now...why no pictures?

[TLBSHOW]

NASA should never of let it launch to start with.

[yonif]

I don't buy it that nothing could have been done. THey should at least tried other means and ways to get them back safe. Just like in Apollo 13, they tried and tried. They had at least a week. Simply sending them into Earth and crossing their fingers is a big no no.

[Mo1]

NASA had a system they tried out (caulking gun), but there was a reduction in the safety margins of the tiles,

I haven't heard of this .. but there is still the problem of going out into space to fix the problem

It is my understanding this was not possible on the Columnia

[Miss Marple]

I think this is very instructive in how some people, sitting in the comfort of their computer rooms with scant information and NO accountability, immediately attack NASA like piranha on a beef carcass.

Now, I ask you, what will happen if there are casualties during the coming war with Iraq? Will they immediately tell us that General X should have known, and was irresponsible? Will they call for immediate replacement of officers and Rumsfeld? Will we be treated to unending speculation of what strategy would have been better, in hindsight? Silly theories based on incorrect information?

I think we all know the answer to my questions, and I am not pleased to say this, but someone has to point this out.