[Brookhaven]

We wouldn't be having this controversy over the foam had NASA notified the shuttle of the incident. They could have inspected the wing while they were in orbit to determine if there was any damage.

I don't buy the theory that they didn't notify them because there isn't anything they could have done about it. Even if they couldn't have affected repairs, they could have waited until another shuttle was sent to bring them down (they were scheduled for 18 days, they could have stretched that quite a bit if they were careful.) I find it hard to believe that NASA (working night and day on an emergency basis) couldn't get another shuttle up there in 3 weeks.

At the very least, if you are going to fly a crippled ship home, you at least have the right to know that so you have some time to wrap things up should things go for the worse (as they did here.)

[hopespringseternal]

We wouldn't be having this controversy over the foam had NASA notified the shuttle of the incident. They could have inspected the wing while they were in orbit to determine if there was any damage.

NASA apparently did notify them because they did what they could to inspect the wing, but the underside was inaccessible. There were no MMUs on board, and no way to get under the wing without one.

[Mr. Bird]

Even if they couldn't have affected repairs, they could have waited until another shuttle was sent to bring them down (they were scheduled for 18 days, they could have stretched that quite a bit if they were careful.) I find it hard to believe that NASA (working night and day on an emergency basis) couldn't get another shuttle up there in 3 weeks.

I heard a NASA rep explain the reasons they couldn't. I believe the crux of the rescue issue was that, unlike castaways on an island, rationing in space is not as easy. There's no effective means (on the shuttle I guess) to maintain adequate air supply for too long. If it were just a matter of food and water, yes, they could string it out.

In addition, they would be running the risk of compounding the problem with another accident. Remember, the incident during launch had not been even close to resolution. They would be scrambling to launch another shuttle without necessarily knowing what happened to Columbia. High risk.

[Trust but Verify]

I understand the crew DID know about the foam impact and accepted the analysts opinion that there was no significant structural damage. I'm sure someone will tell me if I'm wrong.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

. They could have inspected the wing while they were in orbit to determine if there was any damage.

Given the equipment the crew had at their disposal and the configuration of the shuttle on this mission how could they have inspected the wing?

[Jambe]

We wouldn't be having this controversy over the foam had NASA notified the shuttle of the incident. They could have inspected the wing while they were in orbit to determine if there was any damage.

NASA did notify the crew of the potential problem earlier in the flight. The crew even took pictures of the wing (as best they could without an EVA). There are reports that some crew members even mentioned the "potential" wing damage with family members via email.

I also recall hearing one report that the crew had been requested to photo the external fuel tank after separation to help identify where the foam object released from and it's size. What's not clear si how the crew would have been able to do this as it was 24 hrs after launch (+ -) that a review of the launch video 1st detected the wing being struck by an object. Don't know what the position of the external tank was at that point.

Can anyone else confirm this?

[snopercod]

We wouldn't be having this controversy over the foam had NASA notified the shuttle of the incident.

They DID notify the Columbia. That has been mentioned over and over here on FR. Say, you're not a reporter from People magazine are you?