posted 02-07-2003 07:43 PM            

Rizz

Looks like they removed the image.

posted 02-07-2003 11:18 PM               

Every Tom, Dick, & Harry reporter out there is putting forward their own opinions on virtually nonexistent data at this point. A fuzzy photo where each pixel is covering several FEET of the craft at an unknown angle don't tell us much...yet. Sure it may help us later but lets don't give credence to the useless speculation that is coming from less than fully informed reporters. Take these reports with a grain of salt folks. Let NASA do it's work.

posted 02-08-2003 12:34 PM            

It was just speculation on my part, and there is no room for speculation.

We'll let NASA do their job, and wait for the official report.

posted 08-26-2003 11:21 PM            

On page 71 they reveal that the above mentioned image shows an unusual condition (an anomaly) on the left wing; a leading edge disturbance, indicating possible damage.

Several analysts concluded that the distortion evident in the image, likely came from the modification and interaction of shock waves due to the damaged leading edge.

The overall appearance of the leading-edge damage at this point on the trajectory is consistent with the scenario.

Imagine what the outcome might have been had Columbia been imaged extensively from ground-based telescopes and space surveillance satellites immeadiately after the foam impact was discovered.

Imagine having a leader like Gene Kranz and his team, working in the days and nights ahead on coming up with a plan to safely bring the crew home.

Imaging would have definately played an important role in the discovery and extent of damage on the orbiter.

Fuzzy pictures and anomalies, to a trained eye, can in fact reveal alot of data.

Unfortunately, according to the report, there were numerous breakdowns in communication all along the way.

It all just comes down to accountability, in my opinion.

Check out this link, it discusses STS 87 Post Flight inspection:

http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/people/journals/space/katnik/sts87-12-23.html

No room for compromising here.

I hope that this CAIB report serves as a wake up call!

We have GOT to get it together!

Rizz

posted 08-27-2003 09:09 AM               

I'm a little concerned that they seem not to equate budgetary restraths with safety procedures. If you apply this to the ISS, is it safe to depend on the Russian spacecrafts as a rescue vehicle? Why are we not continuing to develop such a vehicle and would one be applicable on Shuttle flights?

The major steps towards return to flight are adjustments to the ET stack, In-flight damage accessments, either by the crew or by satellite or earth-bound telescopes, and Repair capability. The last point may be the toughest to innitiate. A whole in the leading edge the size of what we saw on the test firing of the foam during the boards' investigation would be very difficult to repair.

The report also seems to attack the NASA culture as a fault of the accident. I think of this as being a result of NASA being born out of the Test pilot mentallity, getting used to taking risks and hanging it out over the edge. Spaceflight is never going to be absolutely safe. Clearly we have a way to go, but I think this report will be a positive thing. To bad it couldn't have happened before the accident.

Well, I'm off to download, Happy reading!

posted 08-27-2003 06:53 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by DavidH:
Was it just me, or watching Failure Is Not An Option Sunday, did I not hear Kranz say TWICE that they didn't do anything about possible heat shield problems, because if they heat shield was damaged, there was nothing they could do?

---

Good point.

Keep in mind however that Mercury, Gemini & Apollo were all "capsules"
and didn't have the luxury of being able to sustain an Earth orbit for 16 days.

16 days.

Thats an awful lot of time to positively identify the damage and to come up with a workable plan.

This is known as accountability or competency.

Lets not take things (like foam debris) for granted. (see link 4 posts up).

I still find it hard to believe that no one at NASA took the initiative to demand that all eyes (camera's & sensors) be focused on Columbia just to make certain one way or another.

There's simply no excuse.

With the capabilities and resources at NASA's fingertips, there were in fact many options.

Since we already have perfected Earth orbit rendezvous and EVA's, seems like maybe there could have been a very real possibility to rescue the crew after all.

I honestly believe they could have accomplished that.

Where there is a will there's a way!

Rizz