Pray they can fix the shuttle

I have been praying since they decided to launch even though they knew there were issues.

 

After this mission is completed I think the shuttle program should be stopped. The shuttle fleet is due for retirement in 2010 so I don't see a good reason to keep pouring money into it trying to fix it.

I do hope that what could be the final shuttle mission ends successfully. I imagine a lot of us will be getting up really early on August 8 to watch the broadcast of the re-entry scheduled for early that morning.

 

I have mixed feelings about it.

There are men and women in this world whose life dream was to fly in space.

Those kinds of dreams, years ago, have resulted in the satellites we have today that provide us with news, allow one doctor to guide another through surgery, and protect us from enemies across the world.

Many of the things we rely on every day are a direct result of NASA space research. From velcro to freeze-dried-foods.

I don't want the space program to be cancelled.

I want it to be made safe.

 

I am not advocating cancelling the space program. By no means. But the shuttle is basically thirty year old technology that is due to be replaced. It's time for a new space vehicle.

 

I too pray they make it back safely.

It is time to retire the shuttle. No one will ever trust it again. This kinds of minor flaws were common before the disaster. Tiles were chipped and even missing, bits extruded, etc. Columbia had a gapping hole in her wing and that was the cause of her tragedy.

Now, every flaw, no matter how small, must be dealt with. NASA cannot chance re-entry knowing that the slightest thing is wrong.

The shuttle is still a fine craft, but NASA and the rest of America have lost confidence in it.

End the shuttle programme and instead of focusing on fixing it, focus on the next generation and speed it up.

Sadly, space flight will not be "safe" in the foreseeable future. It will always be risky.

Praying for a safe return.

[ August 02, 2005, 01:52 AM: Message edited by: C4K ]

 

Here is my negative remark for the day. It just seems to me that the folks running NASA are pretty incompetent when it comes to safety and keeping multi million dollar space crafts from exploding. From what I understand, they knew there were still problems with the craft and launched it anyway. I just think there are some folks down there making some bad decisions, and they might need to be fired, and then start over.

Joseph Botwinick

 

I agree with you regarding the need to fire some people Joseph.

The short-sightedness of bureaucrats is frightening. They will often take huge risks, in the name of "we might not get caught this time, and we don't want anyone else to know something is wrong," that inevitably destroy their companies/projects.

 

Most incompetent bureaucrats do not get fired--they get promoted. It is called the Principle of Peter--or Peter Principle. There is a book by that name(circa 1960's)--real good reading. It describes this situation very closely.

The Space Program suffers from an advanced case of "affirmative actionitis".

Selah,

Bro. James

 

I have a prejudiced view of the space program because I grew up in Titusville, FL during the end of the Gemini program and the during entire Apollo program. My father also worked at the Cape for around 13 years. The Sixties and Seventies were a thrilling time to live there with launches at least monthly.

My personal opinion is that Big Media is blowing this Shuttle problem up bigger than it needs to be. Why? They love to cry 'wolf' because it sells papers and gets ratings on the TV.

Space flight will never be 100% safe. Neither will driving your car.

Yes, there has been mismanagement in the space program, just as in every other government program known to man. Doesn't mean we should overlook it but it is a fact of life. Managers are human and humans make mistakes.

There are a million and one things that could go wrong at any time when you are dealing with something as complicated as the shuttle. Can't control them all. I think the professionals call it 'Managed Risk.' We have received great benefits from the space program and personally I think it would be an error to just shut it down.

That's my two cents worth.

 

Not to worry. Protruding filler material is something that happens from time to time, and has done so since the very first shuttle flight. Right now, NASA is attempting to leave no stone unturned in examining the shuttle, which is why this is making the news right now. This repair isn't an absolutel necessity. However, it's the best opportunity for NASA to get the hand of making periodic repairs on the shuttle midfight.

Periodic maintenance is par for the course, be it on the shuttle or the next generation of space vehicles. Heck, we still have U2's and B52's that are 50 years old in service today, not to mention the planes those bands were named after

I think if NASA wants to continue flying shuttles at their discretion for future flights until a replacement is enagurated, then they should. If they don't, that's fine too, but I would be amiss to have no manned presence in space for the US.

 

Yes, the millenium came 5 years ago But unless dogs and cats start living together, I don't thinkyou have too much to worry about.

 

Praying, praying and praying some more!

 

Pray if you want to, but I don't think praying will make one iota of difference in the shuttle.

 

But unless dogs and cats start living together

Better worry - my dogs and cats sleep curled up together.

 

The managers are under conflicting pressures all the time. They must weigh safety, with the need to get into space. As much as they'd like to pretend that safety is everything, it really is only the #1 priorty. Congress gets antsy when shuttles are continually delayed.

 

Space Shuttle Undocks, Heads for Home

SPACE CENTER, Houston (AP) - Space shuttle Discovery unhitched Saturday from the orbital outpost its astronauts called home for nine days, readying itself for the long, dangerous journey back to Earth.

There were hugs and handshakes as Discovery's astronauts said their goodbyes to the astronaut and cosmonaut who live aboard the international space station. The crews then closed the hatches between the ship and orbiting lab.

Discovery inched back 400 feet from its docking point, but before leaving for good, flew a farewell loop around the station. Pilot Jim Kelly then fired the spacecraft's jets and repositioned the ship for its voyage home.

Discovery's astronauts are scheduled to complete their 13-day mission Monday when the first shuttle to return to space since the 2003 Columbia tragedy is set to land in Florida.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050806/D8BQCH800.html

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