Space Shuttle Explosion

Joined
Dec 27, 2002
Messages
63
Re: Space Shuttle Explosion

don't quite know what to say kindof don't seem real (I gess that a bit of shock)<br />I will say that I feel for all those guy and girls left at home <br />A tragedy for the whole world.<br /><br />cheers Daryl <br /><br />ps I gess we got to find A way to keep our collective chins up
 

NOSLEEP

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Oct 30, 2002
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Re: Space Shuttle Explosion

The most beautiful northern lights of the season<br />early this morning, I watched them all the way<br />to the fishing hole. made me think about them.<br />A quiet drive out.
 

SpinnerBait_Nut

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Re: Space Shuttle Explosion

One NASA official said they had noticed some of the heat shields come off at liftoff and that the temperature went up some 65 degrees right before the shuttle exploded.<br />Would it have not been wise to abort the mission when they noticed the heat shields had came off? :confused:
 

OBJ

Supreme Mariner
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Dec 27, 2002
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Re: Space Shuttle Explosion

Don't know if they can abort re-entry that far in Spinner. I think they were pretty well committed when she broke up. Makes you kinda' wonder if the human sacrifice is worth it but then there has been folks taken even in what we like to do best, boating. We certainly are a strange species us humans.
 

SpinnerBait_Nut

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Re: Space Shuttle Explosion

No, what I am saying obj, is that if they knew that some heat shields came off in liftoff, abort it right then.
 

ob

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Re: Space Shuttle Explosion

Don't think they can do it then either Spinner.They would have to dump the boosters and risk ground casualties.Those takeoffs are all or none.<br />What a tragic loss . :(
 

OBJ

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Re: Space Shuttle Explosion

I think I know what Spinner is saying. At lift off, there was "debis" that was, listening to the news, supposedly foam insulation from the main fuel tank that came off and went across the wings. There has been much talk about that. What I'm wonderin' is, can these birds just be getting old? Even though they go through months of inspections and testing between flights, well, nothing last forever. And the orbiters take a hecka'va lot more stress than any earth bound bird does.
 

SpinnerBait_Nut

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Re: Space Shuttle Explosion

Yea OBJ, that was the oldest one of the fleet.<br />It was returning from it's 27th. mission.<br />And yea I can just imagine the stress them things go through leaving the earth's atmosphere and then returning back into it, not counting the beating it takes at liftoff.<br />I would think they could dump the fuel cells out over the ocean somewhere and bring the big bird back to land.<br />But I guess thats why they get the big bucks.<br />I just don't think I would like to make that call to let it continue in it's flight if I knew something as important as it's heat shields were affected.
 

mellowyellow

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Jun 8, 2002
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5,327
Re: Space Shuttle Explosion

is anyone besides me starting to wonder if the<br />shuttle missions are really necc? a big HUGE waste<br />of money? what do you guys think????<br />excerpt from msnbc article:<br /><br />"One experiment was by Michael Delp of Texas A&M University on how weightlessness affects the blood vessels of rats. Delp’s project was part of the Fundamental Rodent Experiments Supporting Health (FRESH) payload, which consisted of 13 rats housed in three Animal Enclosure Modules in the cargo bay of Columbia. There is no reason to question the scientific validity of this work, one of 80-plus experiments carried aboard the mission, and NASA believes the results could be important for astronauts spending long periods in orbit. What that means, though, is that this was space research done for the purpose of doing more space research. For years, backers of scientific work that happens not to involve spaceflight—noting the roughly $500 million cost of a shuttle mission—have questioned how much money should be expended on manned projects such as this. In the wake of last week’s tragedy, the country was beginning to wonder: how many lives should be risked on it?<br /><br />$500 million per mission???? how many/year??? <br />how much do you add for the lost shuttle craft?<br />billions and billions I guess...<br /><br />on a sombre note, my prayers go out to the families.<br />as Pres. Bush said; "hope they are home now"
 

SpinnerBait_Nut

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Re: Space Shuttle Explosion

Just thought it might be nice to see the brave people that lost their lives on the shuttle.<br />
crew.jpg
 

SCO

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Re: Space Shuttle Explosion

Mellow, <br /><br />That's a fair question. I think our societal trend to shut down anything that poses a risk is a crippling one. I heard that our current enemies thought this to be an admonishment from a higher power, sour grapes for sure, but our setbacks here occur while we are doing great things. We can't, should not stop. We waste so much money and lives for things that don't matter. This is one of the only endeavors of ours that does matter that goes beyond each of us individually for the benefit of our people as a whole. Who knows where this path will lead, and when we get there a thousand years from now, we will be a link in the chain that did not drop the ball when the going got tough.
 

mellowyellow

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Re: Space Shuttle Explosion

hi SCO, your point is well taken. however I feel<br />all that money might be better spent elsewhere<br />in this country. perhaps education?<br />that's a whole lotta coin...if every american had<br />a good education/job/secure retirement/healthcare etc. <br />and we had money left over, then go for it!<br />I see the value in these missions, but have a hard<br />time justifying the cost.<br />regards,<br />M.Y.
 

Jack Shellac

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Re: Space Shuttle Explosion

Speaking of money, I couldn't believe that this terrible tragedy was followed by people trying to sell shuttle debris they'd found on E-bay. E-bay had the decency to immediately remove the listings and has threatened to report the listers to the Federal authorities. Hope they do.
 

SCO

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Re: Space Shuttle Explosion

At least this doesn't represent a recent decay of human nature. I've heard similar stories associated with the Lincoln Assassination.
 

Homerr

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Mar 4, 2002
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2,294
Re: Space Shuttle Explosion

I agree Jack...<br /><br />The (lack of better word) A**holes that tried to sell the debris on E-bay should be dropped from 200,000 ft. ! Burn in hell you morons! I hope the feds find you and prosecute accordingly.<br /><br />Same goes for the buyers...<br /><br />I know the world is (unfortunately) filled with some crude individuals, but COME ON!<br /><br />Idiots...<br /><br />My 2 cents.<br /><br />I remember watching the 'ol girl go up in 1981 for the first time. It was early that morning (on the West coast). There was seemingly so many delays before lift off. <br />When Columbia finally did get her candles lit, I... Well, I guess I can't really explain how I felt. I was a boy filled with dreams. <br />I guess watching something like that for the first time just reinforced those dreams...<br /><br />May the Columbia crew rest in peace knowing they expanded our knowledge, hopes and dreams of life outside our tiny little part of the galaxy.<br />They knew the risks involved, yet they pushed on.<br />I can only dream of being half as brave and courageous as they were.<br /><br />Thank you Rick, William, Michael, David, Kalpana, Laurel, and IIan. <br /><br />You will not be forgotten. <br /><br />H.
 

snapperbait

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Re: Space Shuttle Explosion

Yeah Jack... When they first announced on the news the day of the incident that people were finding pieces of the wreckage, I though to myself "ya know, some joker is going to try to put some pieces of it on E-bay"... Disgusting... :( <br /><br />Just glad I fortunate to live close enough to the cape to be able to see the shuttle and some of the other launches from my home...
 

SpinnerBait_Nut

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Re: Space Shuttle Explosion

Quite hard to believe this; these are amazing!<br />Attached are pictures of the Shuttle Explosion from an Israeli Satellite in space. <br /><br />They are from the Department of Justice in Washington D.C. <br /><br />These are some incredible pictures of the shuttle explosion provided by the Israeli govt.<br /><br />Sorry about that. I have deleted it after finding out they are hoax and a sick one at that.<br /><br />I found it here.<br /> web page <br /><br />I have also notified the person that sent them to me.<br />Again, sorry. :(
 

ebbtide176

Commander
Joined
Jan 22, 2002
Messages
2,289
Re: Space Shuttle Explosion

now THAT should have been under the "OH CRAP" forum... dang, i'm speechless :confused:
 
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