NASA news conference~~~ Live Thread

MSNBC | 1-05-03 | Dog

[Rockitz]

That's because if he admitted it was ice, the launch director is in deep shinola.

[Moonman62]

The teathers only allow them to go as far as the payload bay. Seems to me in certain instances (perhaps if my ass depended on it), that teather could be jury rigged to allow an over the side adventure.

But that wouldn't fit in with NASA's modern day "can't do" attitude.

[HairOfTheDog]

Yes, that's true about the spray foams I have seen.

[DoughtyOne]

Folks this isn't an exact report. These are the items covered and to the best of my ability, the gyst of the answers. Don't develop a case based on this until you hear a repeat of the interview.

[snopercod]

Urethane foam like I use around the house is almost white when first placed, but turns orange after exposure to the sun. Maybe that is why the tank is orange. I dunno...

[Moonman62]

Ron Dettemore just admitted they always have space suits on board so they can manually shut the payload bay. They did have teathers and he's not sure if they had the space maneuver device for space walks. He'll check.

But the other day he was so cock sure that nothing could be done.

[HairOfTheDog]

But that wouldn't fit in with NASA's modern day "can't do" attitude.

And if they killed somebody, or destroyed a bunch more tiles, on a hair-brained cowboy spacewalk maneuver that was never designed into their plans, on a fishing expedition to "just take a look" on the underside of the craft, you would call them reckless.

[DoughtyOne]

You have become aware of reservations you were not aware of before the launch. Could you expand on those?

We did have some. I'm trying to put them in proper context. Were these concerned to the analysis, the conclusion or the process. He feels those concerns were not related to the conclusion. Reservations did not manifest themselves after the decisions were complete, evaluations made. They were a part of the process.

He expects reservations as a part of the process. Not everybody agree with the interpretation of data.

He feels this is good healthy tension.

I would consider that normal, woudl be concerned if it was not there.

He feels people at the end of the process were comfortable.

[Moonman62]

When concern over "PC" enters the Space Age, we were doomed to repeat the Challenger disaster eventually.

Plus their primary goal for manned space flight for the past 20 years has been multiculturism and diversity in space.

[HairOfTheDog]

Relax... He is still "cock sure" that the equipment aboard is designed for walks into the cargo bay only.

[Mo1]

They said they don't think it was ice

[DoughtyOne]

Discussion of the foam process, the reports relating to it. He's talking about the reports and his actions in relation to them. Assessment, evaluation, satisfation of discussions... (nothing noteworthy)

[HairOfTheDog]

Thanks for your transcription.... I am not able to do that!

[Moonman62]

And if they killed somebody, or destroyed a bunch more tiles, on a hair-brained cowboy spacewalk maneuver that was never designed into their plans, on a fishing expedition to "just take a look" on the underside of the craft, you would call them reckless.

No I wouldn't. Assuming NASA has half a brain they would have tried telescopic observations first. My point is they didn't even try.

[DoughtyOne]

Are you redtagging any debris in particular?

Talks of debris recovery. What methods...

Feels there is no red tagged materials as of yet. They have identified what items they would like to see.

Left wing, tiles, recorders (voice/data)...

[DoughtyOne]

Reporter: Reports of Father of Israeli astronaut Ramon, says NASA told him that NASA told him the Astronauts would have 60 seconds after any worry before failure.

Dettemore knows nothing of this.

[HairOfTheDog]

You are just trolling. Not listening.

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

[freepersup]

Same here-

I've felt all along that the debris object is ice. My reasoning was in the behavior of the debris as it appears pulverized by the impact with the underside of the wing.

Foam would be flexible to some degree, and in my lay opinion, it would behave differently (than what we see) upon impact.

It appears to 'spray' after impact.

Another poster suspected that the debris cloud is made up of tile materials, in the form of dust. I felt that it was probably a little of both. Tile dust and pulverized ice particles appear to spray out into the left side, booster rocket, engine flame, plume. Whew-

NASA keeps referring to insulation striking the wing. I don't see how they draw such a certain conclusion as to what it is. What basis for proof positive that it's insulation ?

[DoughtyOne]

Missed that one...

[Frank_Discussion]

That's because the suits and their tethers do not allow for an EVA to the underside of the wing. It has nothing to do with the "can't-do attitude" or anything else.

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.

Also, Dittimore knows a great deal about the orbiter, but not nearly as much about the hardware it carries. This is apparent as he speaks about the Manned Manuevering Unit (MMU) that people are asking about. It was an experimental system, and retired many years ago. It wasn't available.

Next time you lose your spacecraft, Moonie, you make sure to have all the answers for us, okie-dokie?