NASA news conference~~~ Live Thread

MSNBC | 1-05-03 | Dog

[Dog]

Post comments here..

[Rockitz]

Ice expert people don't think there were icing conditions In Florida with a tank of hydrogen at 40 R? The ice experts must be on the hook too!

[DoughtyOne]

Are any problems traced to the umbilicle door? What would the impact there cause comparitively?

I don't belive the analysis of the debris strick is likely to have been in that area. It was more outboard (toward the end of the wing comparitively).

He feels the latch doors operated correctly. These doors close after boosters or large tank jetesson.

[DoughtyOne]

They lose about 100 tiles per flight. Where are they located?

No, we're talking impact points, not lost tiles.

Runway debris might even cause that, gravel, particles...

Some from launch too, foam etc, but they are minor in nature. Not a flight concern...

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, at least they are experts, so I believe them over anyone who "just thinks" it is ice.

[Moonman62]

You are just trolling. Not listening.

They had no reason at the time to think that any extraordinary measures needed to be considered.

They knew that the Columbia would be the most stressful reentry in the history of the program (record weight, plus a dense winter atmosphere).

They should have tried for the observations, but I did listen to Dittemores's first press conference. He said why bother, they were doomed.

[fooman]

Right you are on the ice. I also want to understand the discrepancy between NASA's 2lbs of foam versus the article yesterday that said the ice that fell could be 50 kilos or 110 lbs.

Also this is the best working theory we have so far. Does NASA have a better theory?

[Moonman62]

Producing a makeshift tether for a dubious risk puts the astronauts in far greater danger. They made the right call, if it was even an option.

Who's to say that was the only option? They didn't make a call. They didn't even try.

[DoughtyOne]

Have we learned anything from military photos? Does California sightings mean things started much earlier than previously thought?

Seeking info from all sources, private, public, DoD.

If we found any debris in Ca, Ariz, NM, it would be significant. The debris would point us it the right direction. That's why they are following up on this so stridently.

Based on breakup, they are developing new models of debris footprint all the time. If the public finds something, it would be great.

(Did not address the air force photographic issue directly)

[DoughtyOne]

BTW folks, Dettemore stated he does not think it was ice. He mentioned some reasons.

[sonofatpatcher2]

Re: I did listen to Dittemores's first press conference. He said why bother, they were doomed.

I wonder why did you even care to listen? As your post tell us, you already know everything there is to know. You have already solved the whole thing!

Therefore, everyone turn off the briefing. We have Moonman62 to tell us all we need to know.

[HairOfTheDog]

He said why bother, they were doomed.

Bull.... he said with only a slight risk that there was any damage, there wasn't any reason to take extraordinary risks to just look at something they have no ability to fix anyway.

But your mind was made up Sunday, why even follow the investigation?

[HairOfTheDog]

I paraphrased the reasons he doesn't think it was ice on the thread up there somewhere.

Thanks for the transcription service!

[DoughtyOne]

LOL

[DoughtyOne]

No problem. I don't like to do it, because a transcription on this needs to be more precise than I can deliver.

[DoughtyOne]

I noticed your did later. Thanks. I wasn't able to follow the thread and transcribe.

Folks we have a new questions session coming up here. I don't know the date/time info.

[freepersup]

The ground temperature was 40 degrees F with 100% relative humidity. The temperature would decrease 1 degree per one thousand feet altitude, until reaching one of the four layers of atmosphere where the temperature would begin to increase. Which one that is, escapes me.

Perhaps ice built up on the fuel tank after launch and eventually was jarred loose, either due to flight dynamics (vibration) or by the temperature of the atmosphere as the launch-vehicle system passed through this particular air layer.

[HairOfTheDog]

?This morning's briefing? is replaying again on NASA TV now...

[freepersup]

Thanks- I didn't hear that exchange.

[HairOfTheDog]

They don't think it was ice, they think it was foam. Why does it matter to you which it was?

[Frank_Discussion]

Y'know what? You're right. They did not make that particular call. Given their experience with debris impacting the tiles and the data in hand, they made a different call - they saw no problems. The teams that manage the shuttle can only work with the tools and data available, and they evaluate risk within the boundaries created therein.

Furthermore, assuming their information is right, something else happened to cause the failure. That'll come out in time. Who knows? Maybe it was the impact. If so, we'll find out.

Unless you and Miss Cleo can make pre-cognitive links beyond logic and available information, shut yer piehole. Or Troll somewhere else.

(I fully expect you to now blame the whole thing on a conspiracy by the Bavarian Illuminati from Area 51, but that's a whole different story...)