Space shuttle

[LancsLad]

Check anywhere you like. There are plenty of sources, not just Snopes, to confirm that this story has been completely debunked.

Not saying I disagree with you. It does make a great example though.


Speaking of pencils. Throughout the whole of WWII the Germans never caught on to the fact that the pencils carried by RAF pilots contained a very fine rolled up silk map of Europe to use if they were downed as an aid to E and E.

 

[Macator2003]

Thanks for the laughs guys. A bunch of horny Terbites criticising and debating about the decisions made by engineers at NASA regarding Space Shuttle repairs, program management, risk taking, etc.. Like you guys even know about the intricacies of the Shuttle. I know, I know, you're all very well versed in aerospace engineering from reading internet posts....

Good one Spock. Its the Lounge, that's what we do. You go into an elevator and somebody will comment on the weather AND we're not all meteorologist (are you kinda surprised a horny Terbite could spell it). That's human nature.

Nasa has made some major mistakes over the years, but this is the new frontier.

When people look back in 25-50 years, they'll be shaking their heads at the thought of using heat shields for re-entry.

 

[TQM]

Haywood,

Thanks very much - awesome. Just saw the shuttle and the space station.

Is there a source where one can check to find out how to see these things on a more regular basis? I mean the Space station must come by often, no?

Man - they are fast - brighter than stars, you could, with the naked eye, sort of get a hint of shape.

Truly awesome. Thanks.

 

[kbluejayk]

Thanks for the laughs guys. A bunch of horny Terbites criticising and debating about the decisions made by engineers at NASA regarding Space Shuttle repairs, program management, risk taking, etc.. Like you guys even know about the intricacies of the Shuttle. I know, I know, you're all very well versed in aerospace engineering from reading internet posts....

On the contrary, speaking for myself, I'm a complete ignorant novice on the intricacies of the Space Program, just like yourself, the only difference being that I don't have an assinine condescending attitude to other Terbites in this thread!
We can all express our opinions or ideas freely, without the dripping sarcasm!

As for the engineering brains at NASA...they don't exactly have an unblemished record, do they?

 

[danmand]

On the contrary, speaking for myself, I'm a complete ignorant novice on the intricacies of the Space Program, just like yourself, the only difference being that I don't have an assinine condescending attitude to other Terbites in this thread!
We can all express our opinions or ideas freely, without the dripping sarcasm!

As for the engineering brains at NASA...they don't exactly have an unblemished record, do they?

The latest copy of The Economist had a piece about proverbs that have lost their meaning, one of them being "Rocket Science"

 

[TQM]

You're complaining about

a condescending attitude toward terbites who were showing a condescending attitude toward NASA engineers and phsyicists.

You point out these engineers and phsyicists have blemishes on their record. So to do terbites.

It's lunacy to second guess them without some kind of expertise.

 

[kbluejayk]

Yawn!...

 

[lookingforitallthetime]

Thanks for the laughs guys. A bunch of horny Terbites criticising and debating about the decisions made by engineers at NASA regarding Space Shuttle repairs, program management, risk taking, etc.. Like you guys even know about the intricacies of the Shuttle. I know, I know, you're all very well versed in aerospace engineering from reading internet posts....

At the risk of exposing my identity, I am a NASA engineer and yes, a Rocket Scientist.

Now PISS OFF Jackass!

 

[LancsLad]

Thanks for the laughs guys. A bunch of horny Terbites criticising and debating about the decisions made by engineers at NASA regarding Space Shuttle repairs, program management, risk taking, etc.. Like you guys even know about the intricacies of the Shuttle. I know, I know, you're all very well versed in aerospace engineering from reading internet posts....

I may not have trained as a rocket scientist but I HAVE stayed at a Holiday Inn Express.

 

[HaywoodJabloemy]

...Is there a source where one can check to find out how to see these things on a more regular basis?..
...you could, with the naked eye, sort of get a hint of shape...

You must have better eyes than I do if you can make out a shape. They just look like points of light to me, and a little blurry tonight through thin clouds. Apparently it is possible to discern structural shapes with a good pair binoculars or telescope, although I assume it would be difficult to follow and focus on a moving target that small.
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/events/stsight.html
http://blog.wired.com/defense/2007/06/picture-this-sp.html

These list possible sightings for Toronto, but can be reset for anywhere. With Heavens-Above.com, click on "select from database" and choose the country, then city.

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdat...gi?country=Canada&region=Ontario&city=Toronto

http://www.heavens-above.com/main.aspx?lat=43.667&lng=-79.417&alt=119&loc=Toronto&TZ=EST

 

[Diablo35]

Risk mitigation

Doesn't appear that had anything to do with the decision not to repair. Of all the different teams at NASA asked (I think the number was around thirty) only one recommended repair. Since the final decision was made on Thursday, there was more than enough time to try and fix it if they had wanted. Chances are the shuttle will return safely, but what I don't understand is why they are willing to roll the dice even if the odds are in their favor. Why not fix the damn thing just in case?

As I understand it, there is a whole set of risks in patching the stupid thing. Ever use expanding foam? Ever get it stuck on your hand (or if you're anal about instructions, your rubber gloves)? Now imagine that you had a fancy shmancy space gauntlet on. Now you're stuck to the damn heat shield and I'm pretty sure of Canadian chum hasn't had a bear in a while and would likely burn up on re-entry, given he kind of needs that glove on to keep the suit pressurized.

Also, if the repair job isn't more or less perfect the heat can get traped in small pockets and rip the wing right off.

Life just isn't that simple. Even with all the risk, this fat idiot would jump at the chance to go up, even if it meant a chance of cooking on the way down.

 

[Worf]

I personally don't think anything will happen (I may still be proven wrong). I think they are finding problems because they are now looking for them. Who knows how may holes there were in the past, but since they weren't looking for them they didn't find them. Now with everybody more aware, they smallest hole will show up. But I still won't go in that thing. Not until they develop deflector shields, warp drives, etc.

 

[TQM]

Haywood,

They got significantly brighter as they moved to the south - but I'm not saying I saw shapes - only that hint that there was a shape there (unlike a star). Kind of hard to explain.

Anyway, it was cool. Thanks again.

 

[elmufdvr]

i hope they make it home.. another ship burining up would kill the program..

 

[Moraff]

They can also land in Florida.

Performing repairs in space can potentially create further safety issues.

They have several options for landing around the world. However, Mission Control is in Houston and they were concerned about having to evacuate depending on the severity of the hurricane when it got there. Ergo they decided to deorbit the shuttle a day early to remove that unknown from the equation.

 

[onthebottom]

Thanks very much - awesome. Just saw the shuttle and the space station.

Is there a source where one can check to find out how to see these things on a more regular basis? I mean the Space station must come by often, no?

Man - they are fast - brighter than stars, you could, with the naked eye, sort of get a hint of shape.

Truly awesome. Thanks.

Try NASA

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/tracking/index.html

OTB

 

[lookingforitallthetime]

At the risk of exposing myself, I too am involved in the aerospace industry and have worked extensively down at KSC. Having spent many months at KSC preparing bits that go into orbit, I have nothing but respect for the folks there. Some of the most competent people I've come across in life. It's no small feat to get the Shuttle into orbit. It's a machine, no matter how much you prepare, it's impossible to cover everything. Machines do fail, sometimes catastrophically. Hence, to hear the ill-informed masses ignorantly discuss the Shuttle is laughable and somewhat irritating. Kudos to you for being a rocket jockey.

Thanks.

It bugged me too when the non rocket jockey's offered their opinion.


Buzz.........er........I mean lookingforitallthetime signing off.

 

[LKD]

Yeah we may not be NASA engineers but atleast we got the brains to decide what's right and not, unlike that female astronaut-turned-stalker (you guys know who I'm talking about), who decided to wear diapers so she could drive to another town without wasting time for toilet break, just so she could scare one of her bf's would-be lovers.

 

[danmand]

Thanks.

It bugged me too when the non rocket jockey's offered their opinion.


Buzz.........er........I mean lookingforitallthetime signing off.

So, honestly, don't you two geniusses think that the spceshuttle is too old and fragile to fly anymore?

 

[lookingforitallthetime]

So, honestly, don't you two geniusses think that the spceshuttle is too old and fragile to fly anymore?

I'm old school, Saturn 5 all the way. Anything else is for chicks and old ladies.

Over.