Space Shuttle Columbia

RuSsMaN · February 2003

Human remains have survived. A flight helmet survived. They said they are actually hoping to find some circuit boards with readable memory.

The whole thing sucks. I noticed Encore 'movieplex' on cable tv is running Apollo 13 today, talk about NO class. People just don't THINK anymore.

-Russ

Ron-P · February 2003

A couple years back I was able to tour the Columbia when it was out here in CA. My prayer's go out to all the families.

Peace Out~:D

Dr. Spec · February 2003

Originally posted by RuSsMaN
Human remains have survived. A flight helmet survived. They said they are actually hoping to find some circuit boards with readable memory.

The whole thing sucks. I noticed Encore 'movieplex' on cable tv is running Apollo 13 today, talk about NO class. People just don't THINK anymore.

-Russ

How about this for a new low in class: Selling parts of the shuttle on eBay.

danger boy · February 2003

Lieutenant Colonel Michael Anderson, was from here, Spokane, WA. this tragedy hits real close to home. The mood here is still disbelief and shock really.

Our hearts are saddened and wish the friends and family of all the astronauts our condolences.

Al

munk · February 2003

Parts:
A hand and an arm fell to earth. That's about all reported before the media put a lid on what would become just another gruesome grocery list. I'm sure if somone wanted to scour the net the list is available.

President:

In the Age of PC I was glad to hear President Bush's comments to the Nation. Quoting Old Testament is not easy to do. It is reported he called the families of the astronauts, and then sat alone in a small room before coming out to face the cameras. No speech writer helped him. Whatever one thinks of Bush's politics,
he is not a phony.

I rather doubt he listens to Hi end stereo, but life is change....

munk

elsid88 · February 2003

Ditto to all that has preceeded me.

The sad thing is that I bet there were some people at NASA who knew these astronauts were "Dead Men Walking". They knew it as soon as they seen the video the next day of that frozen piece of foam hitting the wing. Geez

They just rehabed Columbia but didn't outfit it to be able to dock at the space station. What's the point of having a space station if you can't dock there.

If they could of docked, they could of checked the ship or least hung out until someone could come up and spacewalk for them and check the ship. They never had a chance after they passed the abort window on lift off. No chance.

As the President said, though they haven't come back to earth, we pray that they are safely home.

Godspeed Columbia.

Tom...

Ron-P · February 2003

They could not dock with the space station as they were in completely different orbits.

My father in law helped design the tiles for the Orbiter's, he was also incharge of the 200+ people that installed them. He said there is no emergency repair system for doing a repair like this or any other to an Orbiter in space.

Peace Out~:D

F1nut · February 2003

Ron,

My father and your father in law might know each other. He was called in to solve the adhesion problems with the tiles, the adhesion problems with the foam (he had a few negative comments pertaining to NASA's recent handling of that) and had a few experiments go up on the shuttles. He said they had talked with NASA about emergency repairs, but NASA didn't seem interested.

Hindsight is always 20/20, what a shame.

scottvamp · February 2003

Scott's point of view.

The sad thing is that I bet there were some people at NASA who knew these astronauts were "Dead Men Walking". They knew it as soon as they seen the video the next day of that frozen piece of foam hitting the wing. Geez

I agree!!!
Things to ponder:
Strange but they are collecting footage from people that caught the re-entry of the shuttle in "more detail". They finaly release the "detailed" footage of the heat tile hitting the wing. Why did they not mention this before? Why do "they" not have "detailed" footage of the re-entry?
Strange how no parts of the shuttle "hit" anyone - And if it did and no one knew but NASA knew would they tell us?
I heard a radio show taking about financial fund raiser for the wives? Let me be the first to tell you that these women are already millionaires and now multi-millionaires. Not mention dad probably was a "bit" tied to the job and did not spend much time with the family anyway. Should a person in this bussiness (the ones that have a one and a billion chance to be on the shuttle) have a family? 5 of 6 did with kids.
Saying that every person going up has a unpredictable 50/50 chance of not making it. The moral aspect of the family at hand in mind. For example: (Government Assasin) Hi kids have a great day at school daddy has to kill a few people today. "How was work today honey", "it was murder". Nice!!!!
Why is it that a common Joe making $9.00 an hour work gets killed and perhaps called an idiot for not using a safety device properly does not even make the morning news but if you are killled in a 2.1 billion dollar shuttle your a freaking hero? What do you think one of these shuttle crew members get paid a year to do what no other person on earth gets to experience. Like they have no clue there is a "risk" involved. Give me a break!!!!!
I am a wondering sci-fi nut as much or more than the next person and have the non denile notion that we are over populating the earth as we speak but lets ponder what we are actualy acomplishing. Wow!!!!!! Vent --- Vent!!!!:eek:

Ron-P · February 2003

Why is it that a common Joe making $9.00 an hour work gets killed and perhaps called an idiot for not using a safety device properly does not even make the morning news but if you are killled in a 2.1 billion dollar shuttle your a freaking hero?

Because they are explorer's, knowing all too well the risk at hand, trying to further man-kind, they are hero's. As is our military, all hero's. The average joe is no hero if he cannot use a safety device properly.

As for the family situation, flying the Orbiter has proven one of the safest ways to fly, why not have a family. How many mission's have our 4 Orbiter's flown over the years? Compare that to the fatalities? It's extremely risky, but has been very safe, so far.

Let me be the first to tell you that these women are already millionaires and now multi-millionaires.

Fact's man, show the fact's.

Peace Out~:D

Frank Z · February 2003

Strange but they are collecting footage from people that caught the re-entry of the shuttle in "more detail". They finaly release the "detailed" footage of the heat tile hitting the wing. Why did they not mention this before? Why do "they" not have "detailed" footage of the re-entry?

The piece of frozen insulation that struck the left wing of Columbia was the topic of discussion on all of the networks the day of the tragidy. The information was readily available to anyone who was interested. The problem here is that most people (especially the press) see the shuttle launch as rather common place, even after the Challenger accident. Don't blame NASA for withholding information, blame the news media and your fellow Americans for not caring until something News Worthy (Read: Tragic) happens.
The value of high quality video has always been critical to all launches, manned or unmanned, but even more so after Challenger. The ability to obtain high quality video of an object moving at greater than Mach 12 at an altitude of 40 miles from a ground based camera is almost impossible. Trying to do so from space could prove to be equally difficult.

Strange how no parts of the shuttle "hit" anyone - And if it did and no one knew but NASA knew would they tell us?

7 people already died, isn't that enough?

I heard a radio show taking about financial fund raiser for the wives? Let me be the first to tell you that these women are already millionaires and now multi-millionaires. Not mention dad probably was a "bit" tied to the job and did not spend much time with the family anyway. Should a person in this bussiness (the ones that have a one and a billion chance to be on the shuttle) have a family? 5 of 6 did with kids.

As a former member of the military, I can say that if these families are wealthy it is not from being in the service. As for your assumtion that these men and women did not spend an adequate amount of time with their families, you have no business making that kind of assumption and should realize that almost any working parent has to spend more time away from their children than they like. I feel that the families are Heros also for being here to support the astronauts and their choice to perform a job that a select few are qualified for. God Bless Them All!! Perhaps we should all quit working so we could spend all of our waking hours with our kids. I'm going to guess that the world would come to a screetching halt. Would you want someone to tell you that you could not have a particular job based soley on your marital status, or whether or not you had children. I strongly suggest that that you consider these fundemental freedoms that our country was founded on. They can be found in the Declaration of Independance.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

These brave soles were shining examples of what being an American is all about.

Saying that every person going up has a unpredictable 50/50 chance of not making it. The moral aspect of the family at hand in mind. For example: (Government Assasin) Hi kids have a great day at school daddy has to kill a few people today. "How was work today honey", "it was murder". Nice!!!!

Sorry, but I really do not understand what this means. a little clarification please?

Why is it that a common Joe making $9.00 an hour work gets killed and perhaps called an idiot for not using a safety device properly does not even make the morning news but if you are killled in a 2.1 billion dollar shuttle your a freaking hero?

As far as I'm concerned any man or women that works at any job to provide for him/herself and/or their families are Hero's!! My son came home from school a few years ago (then 2nd grade) and told me that he called the janitor a "Mop Jockey" I held out my calused, stained hands and asked what he thought of me since I had dirt under my nails and turned a wrench for a living. He said I had a "Cool job!" We (I) spent the next 2 hours enlightening my first born, my only son, as to the importance of every job that any man or women could do. My concluding comment to him was "Don't ever look down your nose at someone because of what they do for a living! At least they ARE working and not sponging off the government!!"

If I may quote John Dunn, who wrote "For Whom the Bell Tolls"

..." any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."

What do you think one of these shuttle crew members get paid a year to do what no other person on earth gets to experience. Like they have no clue there is a "risk" involved. Give me a break!!!!!

Refer to my response above. The military members of the crew are paid the same as any member of the Armed Services of equal Rank, and Time in Service. I do not know for certain, but they may also get "Hazardous Duty Pay." Rest assured that they do not make a 6 figure income, although I feel they deserve it!

I am a wondering sci-fi nut as much or more than the next person and have the non denile notion that we are over populating the earth as we speak but lets ponder what we are actualy acomplishing. Wow!!!!!! Vent --- Vent!!!!:eek: [/B]

Fact: the ENTIRE population of the United States could fit into an area the size of Texas, and still have pleny of Elbow room. A little reading of the Census Bureau reports regarding population, and The Statistical Abstract of The United States may be in order.

What we are accomplishing is the betterment of mankind, not just giving people a joyride. The advancements in medical science, physical science, and our understanding of the universe are only a small sample of the benifits of sapce exploration. Take a look at this website and you'll be amazed at what the Space Program has done for us. http://www.spaceconnection.org/

My final quote...

"I may not agree with what you have to say, But I will defend to the death your right to say it!"

Jstas · February 2003

Originally posted by Frank Z
As far as I'm concerned any man or women that works at any job to provide for him/herself and/or their families are Hero's!! My son came home from school a few years ago (then 2nd grade) and told me that he called the janitor a "Mop Jockey" I held out my calused, stained hands and asked what he thought of me since I had dirt under my nails and turned a wrench for a living. He said I had a "Cool job!" We (I) spent the next 2 hours enlightening my first born, my only son, as to the importance of every job that any man or women could do. My concluding comment to him was "Don't ever look down your nose at someone because of what they do for a living! At least they ARE working and not sponging off the government!!"

I was once told that a job is a job, as long as it pays the bills, it doesn't matter what you do for a living. The only difference between any of them is that some jobs pay more bills than others do. A job is not a measure of a man and neither is a paycheck. Some of the greatest figures in human history were from the poorest of the lot.

HBombToo · February 2003

Frank Z IS the MAN!

Respectfully

HBomb

Frank Z · February 2003

HBomb,
Nah..I'm just opinionated. We all have our thoughts on this subject, I just felt the need to express mine a little more than usual. No offense intended to Scott for his views.

HBombToo · February 2003

Thats cool Frank.

The scary thing for you is my opinions match yours.

HBomb

F1nut · February 2003

Frank,

Good post!

Tour2ma · February 2003

Ditto the above to Frank, and add in a ditto to Ron as well. Both of you took the high road and challenged Scott's thoughts without making it personal.

Frank, I especially liked your closing quote... and in its spirit, I'll only add...

Scott, I have to believe you knew your view would not be warmly received, but you posted it in spite of that, and, for whatever it's worth, I respect that.

Ron-P · February 2003

Yep, excellent post Frank.

Peace Out~:D

scottvamp · February 2003

Scott, I have to believe you knew your view would not be warmly received, but you posted it in spite of that, and, for whatever it's worth, I respect that.

Thanks Tour, I often think outside the box. I respect myself. People have opinions and that is what makes us human. I respect all your beliefs.
I am not very good at writing my thoughts out. But the common man can get the point. I often talk to people I work with about such topics of news and what not and it is strange how most agree with my points.
It is amazing how sooo many people are in denial about what is going on in the world. Believeing everything you see and hear on tv can't be a good thing. If aliens took over the world that would be the way to do it. "Throw away all your weapons and have tons of children you can't afford." The tv made me do it!!!!
Lets' spend billions on our back yards first. Let's make our world a better place. Until we develop light travel - what are we really accomplishing. I for one do not think we ever landed on the moon. What did that do for us? I am a true believer in natural selection. Now it's all about the money. No love - only fear - fear to live a "normal" life. One that modern day society brainwashes us to accept. I remember in school reading about a leisure society in the early 2000's. We are working harder, longer hours and for less money. People can't even retire now a days. Corporate america is benifiting - fast food chains are benifiting. Breeding sweatshops and obesity. I'm glad that I am not a sheep!!! Well maybe a little but I still have my opinions.

Space Shuttle Columbia

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