I think the whole space program is taken for granted. I don't know if we have any CalTech/JPL folk here, but there are a million variables that NASA has to plan for and have contingency plans for. There's nothing else like it anymore...Originally posted by: AU Tiger
One of the many things we take for granted until something really bad happens. How many of use even knew the shuttle was landing today? I didn't.
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Originally posted by: LaLaLand
WTF is this live? those little pieces of junk falling?
Apparently they were at an altitude too high for a bailoutOriginally posted by: BDawg
Dubbya is getting ready to convene a "Domestic Event Conference."
I sure hope this is something that went wrong and not sabatoge. Not that the loss of life is good in either case.
Originally posted by: uncJIGGA
Apparently they were at an altitude too high for a bailoutOriginally posted by: BDawg
Dubbya is getting ready to convene a "Domestic Event Conference."
I sure hope this is something that went wrong and not sabatoge. Not that the loss of life is good in either case.. That said, I think it was too high for any sort of sabotage from the ground. The entire landing procedure is computer-controlled so its either a system malfunction or unsuitable atmospheric conditions.
Originally posted by: NogginBoink
Originally posted by: uncJIGGA
Apparently they were at an altitude too high for a bailoutOriginally posted by: BDawg
Dubbya is getting ready to convene a "Domestic Event Conference."
I sure hope this is something that went wrong and not sabatoge. Not that the loss of life is good in either case.. That said, I think it was too high for any sort of sabotage from the ground. The entire landing procedure is computer-controlled so its either a system malfunction or unsuitable atmospheric conditions.
Bailout is an impossibility the way the shuttle is designed. Even on the launchpad, bailout takes something like a minute.
Originally posted by: uncJIGGA
Apparently they were at an altitude too high for a bailoutOriginally posted by: BDawg
Dubbya is getting ready to convene a "Domestic Event Conference."
I sure hope this is something that went wrong and not sabatoge. Not that the loss of life is good in either case.. That said, I think it was too high for any sort of sabotage from the ground. The entire landing procedure is computer-controlled so its either a system malfunction or unsuitable atmospheric conditions...or pilot error early in the reentry process. Since NASA says everything looked normal up until they lost contact [save for tire pressure], I think its most likely system failure.
Tracking video of launch shows what appears to be a piece of foam insulation from the shuttle's external tank falling away during ascent and hitting the shuttle's left wing near its leading edge.