[KantianBurke]

My original proposal was predicated on the problem being dealt with within the 48 hours of Columbia's launch. Atlantis would have begun to be prepped within 4 days of the launch and would have reached the Columbia well within her air limits.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

My original proposal was predicated on the problem being dealt with within the 48 hours of Columbia's launch.

Well, 48 hours would at least give you time to bake an apple pie to send with the crew of Atlantis. Then at least we'd have "pie in the sky"...

along with nine dead astronauts and two lost shuttles.

[Poohbah]

My original proposal was predicated on the problem being dealt with within the 48 hours of Columbia's launch. Atlantis would have begun to be prepped within 4 days of the launch and would have reached the Columbia well within her air limits.

In other words, you ASSUMED that the problem would be correctly identified within 48 hours of launch...