Watching Shuttle Launch!

[GT98]

WTF? I'm pissed about the billion dollars of my taxes and two years that were wasted doing nothing worthwhile. ****ing incompetents.

I wouldnt call all the improvements (besides the issue with the external fuel tank) to the shuttle fleet as wasted money. They did more then just play around with the external fuel tank foam.

[GT98]

Problem is that someone has to get off their arses and go back to the less enviro-friendly but STICKY-AS-HELL foam mix, but will NASA have the kahones to tell the Enviro-Wacko's to go to hell and give 'em directions?

Dr. Mordrid

Maybe if some raises the issue to someone on Congress...well that would be a good start...

[KRSESQ]

The biggest obstacle to going back to the old foam is that NASA probably has anywhere from 3 to 10 external fuel tanks delivered and ready for use. To a) strip off the new foam and recoat with old foam or b) order a new line of tanks with the old foam applied at the factory and modify/mothball the ones they already have would be VERY difficult to get past the bean-counters.

NASA wants to retire the shuttle fleet by 2010. Does anyone realistically think the shuttle will make 5 flights between now and then?

Kevin

[KvHagedorn]

The biggest obstacle to going back to the old foam is that NASA probably has anywhere from 3 to 10 external fuel tanks delivered and ready for use. To a) strip off the new foam and recoat with old foam or b) order a new line of tanks with the old foam applied at the factory and modify/mothball the ones they already have would be VERY difficult to get past the bean-counters.

NASA wants to retire the shuttle fleet by 2010. Does anyone realistically think the shuttle will make 5 flights between now and then?
Kevin

Yeah I think we can recklessly risk the lives of 7 of our best citizens just because we are cheap as hell. That makes really good sense.

[KRSESQ]

Yeah I think we can recklessly risk the lives of 7 of our best citizens just because we are cheap as hell. That makes really good sense.

Sad but true. Money talks, and loudly. The only time things get changed is when enough folks (or just a few highly-placed folks) yell loudly enough to drown out the accountants.

Kevin

[Dr Mordrid]

More good news.....some foam hit a wing;

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/07/28/space.shuttle/index.html

and NASA isn't too certain they can fix the problem;

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/ap_rtf_griffin_050728.html

IMO we're getting closer to starting CEV early as each hour passes.....

Dr. Mordrid

[schmosef]

You don't even need to go so far as internal insulation etc.

JUST USE THE FOAM IT WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED TO USE !!

The problem is this that NASA originally used a spray foam that stuck like crazy, something like those spray insulating foams that stick so well they started using 'em as a glue.

This worked great for 80 some launches.

Then someone at NASA got Enviro-Wacky and decided to use a different kind of foam mix that is supposedly more "enviroment-friendly".

Problem: is doesn't stick for S**T.

Once again human lives don't count as much as PC bulls**t.

Bottom line:

There are at best 20 more shuttle missions to finish the Space Station and do the Hubble rescue mission. The environmentalists can take a rest until those missions are done and CEV starts its run.

Problem is that someone has to get off their arses and go back to the less enviro-friendly but STICKY-AS-HELL foam mix, but will NASA have the kahones to tell the Enviro-Wacko's to go to hell and give 'em directions?

Dr. Mordrid

Hey Doc, I was telling a friend about what you wrote about this foam issue and he was really curious to learn more. Do you have any links to more info on the subject?

[VJ]

Now there is the window-blanket issue:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4744213.stm

Considering the things that go wrong now: were the just so lucky in the last 112 or so launches?

I mean, there were 2 accidents (one at launch, one at re-entry); and now we see some things that go seriously wrong. Did these things occur without people knowing it before (and they were lucky), or didn't they occur at all (and if so, why does it happen now?) ?


Jörg

[Nowhere]

I think now they're just a little paranoid about everything. Which might be dangerous in itself...when something not serious takes attention from something that could be...

[VJ]

I think now they're just a little paranoid about everything. Which might be dangerous in itself...when something not serious takes attention from something that could be...

True...
But then again, it is not like it is possible to say "oh, it's loose, but I'll will probabely suffice". If something is known to be wrong, it seems logical to try and fix it.


Jörg

[Marshmallowman]

yeah they should have stuck with the original foam...I am godamn sure it has a lot less enviromental impact thatn an exploding shuttle.

[High_Jumbllama]

Successful landing!!!

Edit:
BTW, NasaTV on the website is 24 seconds behind live footage.

[VJ]

Great to hear!


Jörg

[Elie]

yeah the landing was awesome seeing it on TV live

Well done NASA!!

[High_Jumbllama]

A TV windows on my machine large in the upper right hand area with a small Nasa TV windows in the upper left. Now they gotta fix that foam!