Shuttle

Post by **lessthanjakejohn** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 6:08 am

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=s ... shuttle_31

Seen this yet?yikes

Post by **MaineExport** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 6:08 am

I just woke up, and I've been glued to the TV ever since. Truely a tragedy. Reminiscent of being a boy and watching the first shuttle loss on TV.

Post by **Woodmister** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 6:08 am

It is a very sad thing that happened...my father went to the Academy with the piolt, William McCool, so thats pretty tough to.

Post by **DAEDALUS** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 6:08 am

Truly horrible. The space program won't recover quickly from this, if at all.

Post by **lessthanjakejohn** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 6:08 am

I hope that the families dont sue, they really have no reason to. WHen your husband/wife goes into spaace you should expect them not to come back. THink NASA will have to do some more testing and waste more money on testing. Build another shuttle. I feel sorry for the families but even the same for NASA

Post by **MaineExport** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 6:08 am

I don't think this will set back the space program like the first one did. We have 3 (or so) other shuttles, and we also have a space station up there to support. I believe it is manned right now also, but I'm not sure....

Post by **AZhitman** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 6:08 am

I agree with Maine - This takes me back to the Challenger tragedy. I was 14 and in Science class when the teacher put the news on...

Amazing how age and other tragic incidents have changed the way we react to such events - Almost hard to feel anything at all.

Our prayers and thoughts are with the families and friends of the shuttle Columbia's astronauts.

Post by **lessthanjakejohn** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 6:08 am

true. true.

Post by **Mayhem_J30** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 6:08 am

maineimport wrote:I just woke up, and I've been glued to the TV ever since. Truely a tragedy. Reminiscent of being a boy and watching the first shuttle loss on TV.

ditto. i think i was about in 3rd or 4th grade when challenger exploded. very horific. i truely feel sorry for the crew and their family and loved ones. those poor rookies on board. to be so close to a succesful mission then it all goes wrong.

i'm at work right now so i can't watch it on TV I can only read about it on the internet. http://www.drudgereport.com is usually updated frequently but being the weekend I don't think it's being done as much.

Post by **MikeS14240sx** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 6:08 am

maineimport wrote:I don't think this will set back the space program like the first one did. We have 3 (or so) other shuttles, and we also have a space station up there to support. I believe it is manned right now also, but I'm not sure....

I could only hope so, I live a few miles form the Kennedy Space Center. The Challenger tragedy turned this area into a ghost town because of all the layoffs. Hopefully this will lead to increased landing regulations to help prevent future incidents.

Post by **Mayhem_J30** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 6:08 am

MikeS14240sx wrote:I could only hope so, I live a few miles form the Kennedy Space Center. The Challenger tragedy turned this area into a ghost town because of all the layoffs. Hopefully this will lead to increased landing regulations to help prevent future incidents.

what do you think could be changed for a safer landing? sounds like you've heard something I haven't.

to me when you're traveling at 12,500 mph anything can happen...very frightening speed.

Post by **VimyJ** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 6:08 am

Certainly appears that there was a malfunction that lead to a compromise of the shuttle's aerodynamics. It doesn't take much to go wrong to cause disaster with the incredible forces involved.

Exploration is a risky undertaking. One just has to think of the "Age of Exploration" when scores of ships headed into the unknown with no charts, radar, communications, etc. How many hundreds if not thousands of people died during those voyages on reefs or from storms?

I hope there is enough recoverable information to be able to determine the cause of this accident. If you have a piece of debris in your backyard, please don't hide it from the authorities. Every little piece will help investigators.

I also hope this event doesn't cause the typical knee jerk reactions about how space exploration is a waste of money, etc. And, how much do you want to bet that conspiracy nut jobs are going to be trotting out the BS before day's end? UFO's, terrorists, vengeful god, etc., etc., etc.

Post by **Mayhem_J30** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 6:08 am

i'm all for space exploration. I think it's just the mystery of it all that keeps me interested. And with the introduction of nuclear power in space we can achieve so much more.

like vimy said, at those speeds crazy forces are created and one wrong move could equal disaster. I'm not pointing fingers, but the pilot was a rookie. maybe there's some info out there on this. Seems like he/she would at least be a co-pilot (that could be what they had meant in the article)

what about the other factors of the damage to the wing before take off? or what about unknown factors like damage that could have been done in space...microscopic space debris etc.

the way the ship split into two/three pieces makes you think an explosion occured internally though.

disclaimer: this is all pure speculation and i am currently in the middle of a 3 star hangover and only getting my info via the internet.

Post by **MaineExport** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 6:08 am

AZhitman wrote: I was 14 and in Science class when the teacher put the news on...

I was 9, and home sick from school. Time does change our reactions. I vaguely remember calling my mother at work to try and get some grasp on the reality of the Challeger situation. Watching it on TV was too surrealistic.

It seems we become desensitized to this type of event.... maybe it's age.... maybe it's violence in the world.... but it is certainly a loss of innocence.

Post by **InstantRice** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 6:08 am

VimyJ wrote:I also hope this event doesn't cause the typical knee jerk reactions about how space exploration is a waste of money, etc. And, how much do you want to bet that conspiracy nut jobs are going to be trotting out the BS before day's end? UFO's, terrorists, vengeful god, etc., etc., etc.

yeah they are just now starting to talk about the possible terrorlst connection i think they are pretty much ruled out but iver heard everything from saddam to the russians on the news.(russians being a russian org. crime unit, the name escapes me, ex kgb'ers with access to military weaponry including nuclear that have no morals no afterthought about killing)

Post by **VimyJ** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 6:08 am

Mayhem_J30 wrote:like vimy said, at those speeds crazy forces are created and one wrong move could equal disaster. I'm not pointing fingers, but the pilot was a rookie. maybe there's some info out there on this. Seems like he/she would at least be a co-pilot (that could be what they had meant in the article)

what about the other factors of the damage to the wing before take off? or what about unknown factors like damage that could have been done in space...microscopic space debris etc.

the way the ship split into two/three pieces makes you think an explosion occured internally though.

From what I understand, the reentry is computer controlled until the final approach for landing which the computers can also perform. The shuttle pilot was, no doubt, a great talent and very experienced but I believe these were events totally beyond his control.

The reported damage that occured on lift off looks initially like the greatest suspect.

An explosion can't be ruled out but if there was any compromise of the flight control surfaces or even the aerodynamic qualities of the fuselage this could throw reentry attitude of by a degree or two. Such are the forces involved with decelerating from 17,500 mph that even a tiny induced misalignment could start ripping huge chunks of the shuttle.

Post by **Mayhem_J30** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 6:08 am

maineimport wrote:It seems we become desensitized to this type of event.... maybe it's age.... maybe it's violence in the world.... but it is certainly a loss of innocence.

interesting as for some reason over the years i've become super sensitive (call me a wuss if you must) to deaths and inhumane acts. maybe it's all the war movies i've watched. I can't help but keep thinking about what it would be like to be one of the astronauts on board when that happend...the last thoughts that would go through your mind is chaos engulfed you.

Post by **ratm** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 6:08 am

This is just terrible. I woke up this moring got on the computer and saw the story. I had to read the headline a couple of times before i actually could believe it. I can't even imagine the horror those astronauts must have experienced as the shuttle broke apart around them.

Post by **Mayhem_J30** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 6:08 am

for you people with no tv...i can't even imaginehttp://www.washingtonpost.com/....html

Post by **MasterMan** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 6:08 am

sad to see this happen because like mike said our area relys on the space center for work, my dad works there, my firends work there and so on.. if they start laying ppl off then this town will go down really fast.. i remember my dad telling me a while back that with the state that the space center is at right now, if a shuttle were to blow up it would easly be the end of our space program.. because they have cut so much funding in the last few years and such..

Post by **darkeagle** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 6:08 am

I got up this morning early getting ready to do somethings and had the radio on 102.9 the buzz (nashvile radio station) and one of them came on talking about traffic reports and then mention the shuttle news and i was like what?! and got home and turned tv on and all news casting channels were showing it coming down in the sky and then showing pics of all the 7 that was aboard it and all. Very sad to see and hear about

Post by **MaineExport** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 6:08 am

Mayhem_J30 wrote:interesting as for some reason over the years i've become super sensitive (call me a wuss if you must) to deaths and inhumane acts. maybe it's all the war movies i've watched. I can't help but keep thinking about what it would be like to be one of the astronauts on board when that happend...the last thoughts that would go through your mind is chaos engulfed you.

Yeah, there is some of that to. I have become more aware of how precious and fragile life is... and things like this definitely make you stop and think. I guess what I mean is that... it hasn't stopped people in their tracks. When the Challenger explosion happened, it occupied my life and impacted it more for the EVENT that it was, not for those that died. Now, the event doesn't seem as signifigant as it should.... but yes, the deaths are indeed tragic and emotionally painful to think about.

Post by **blink0r** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 6:08 am

Personally i think space exploration is a complete waste of time, money and man power.. Exploring space has done little for the benefits of man kind, but it's just my opinion.

Post by **lessthanjakejohn** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 6:08 am

Sometimes it can be a waste of time. Buttt you wouldn't want to lose your Television, Internet, And us americans love our spy satellites

Post by **VimyJ** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 6:08 am

blink0r wrote:Personally i think space exploration is a complete waste of time, money and man power.. Exploring space has done little for the benefits of man kind, but it's just my opinion.

I'm trying to think of benefits the space program has provided. Let's see... improved plastics (many of these are in our cars now), electronic miniaturization (our cars have benefitted from this technology), reliable statelite placement for communications and weather forecasting, fuel cell development, fly by wire technology (working its way into cars)... I'm really thinking hard here. Can anyone else think of advances pioneered by the space program? Tang?

Post by **lessthanjakejohn** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 6:08 am

Some of those things were invented because we wanted to go into space. They weren't made(or discovered) in space.

Post by **VimyJ** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 6:08 am

lessthanjakejohn wrote:Some of those things were invented because we wanted to go into space. They weren't made(or discovered) in space.

You're kidding, right? Space. Program. Space program. What kind of program do we need to undertake to get to space? :thinker A space program.

Post by **lessthanjakejohn** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 6:08 am

ok hahaha. I knew I was going to get bull**** for that!

Freeze Dried Foods for camping!

Post by **Stoneage_Turbo** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 6:08 am

yup id say that damage to the heat reflective tiles caused it , got wicked hot in there and came apart

i recall specs for the sr71 which never ran as fast as the shuttle coming in calling for titainum and odd plastics as alumium would melt at the temps the sr71 flew at , alumium melts at 1300 if i remember right and that would be at around mach 4 i think , i dont have my book on me so this is all rough memeory that has been messdup with massive amonts of alcohol and car crashes

i doubt it was terrorisim but there was a isreali on there and isrel is usuly a taget of terrorists

if it was the tiles then the only way to keep this from happening is a space walk inspection of the tiles before the shuttle reenters , also carrying spare tiles to conduct repairs of failed tiles

these tiles are awesome , can be heated up to thousands of degrees , within seconds of being removed from heat they are cool to the touch ...ceramics are awesome

Post by **Mayhem_J30** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 6:08 am

Stoneage_Turbo wrote:yup id say that damage to the heat reflective tiles caused it , got wicked hot in there and came apart

i recall specs for the sr71 which never ran as fast as the shuttle coming in calling for titainum and odd plastics as alumium would melt at the temps the sr71 flew at , alumium melts at 1300 if i remember right and that would be at around mach 4 i think , i dont have my book on me so this is all rough memeory that has been messdup with massive amonts of alcohol and car crashes

i doubt it was terrorisim but there was a isreali on there and isrel is usuly a taget of terrorists

if it was the tiles then the only way to keep this from happening is a space walk inspection of the tiles before the shuttle reenters , also carrying spare tiles to conduct repairs of failed tiles

these tiles are awesome , can be heated up to thousands of degrees , within seconds of being removed from heat they are cool to the touch ...ceramics are awesome

Mike read this one. They touch on the tile inspection and stuff.http://www.usatoday.com/news/n...x.htm

Did you where the found human remains? Ughh, it's horrible to think about.

Shuttle

Shuttle

Nissan Forums

Infiniti Forums

Datsun Forums

Technical Forums

Classifieds / Marketplace

Nissan Motorsports

General Forums