SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA - How and why the tragic accident happened.
#12
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It would be hard to speculate on what happend. At 12,500 MPH it wouldn't take much to make a disaster.
If you wanted to focus on the tiles, there are about 28,000 of which about 5,000 are considered critical and the loss of one of those 5,000 are consided to make reentry impossible. If I remeber they are made of some kind of silica compound and glued to the skin of the shuttle.
Also in years past a guy in North Dakota or Minnesota claimed to have intercepted a reenntry conversation in which the crew was concerned about cabin temperature on reentry.
If you wanted to focus on the tiles, there are about 28,000 of which about 5,000 are considered critical and the loss of one of those 5,000 are consided to make reentry impossible. If I remeber they are made of some kind of silica compound and glued to the skin of the shuttle.
Also in years past a guy in North Dakota or Minnesota claimed to have intercepted a reenntry conversation in which the crew was concerned about cabin temperature on reentry.
#14
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Tragic, YES.....Godspeed to all 7....Lets don`t forget the human factor. We are learning everyday of are lives. These machines are as complex as anything on earth and lives will be lost as we move forward. I`m a fanatic of space exploration,but there is a price we must pay to move forward with technalogy and new frontiers. It will never be easy or a given,and they the astronauts know the risks. I salute them and their passion for knowledge.
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Originally posted by gdfatha
A reasonable question: Why NO EVA to verify no damage when they were docked with the ISS??
A reasonable question: Why NO EVA to verify no damage when they were docked with the ISS??
God bless their families.
Last edited by SeaRay Jim; 02-01-2003 at 11:50 AM.
#19
Originally posted by gdfatha
A reasonable question: Why NO EVA to verify no damage when they were docked with the ISS??
A reasonable question: Why NO EVA to verify no damage when they were docked with the ISS??
#20
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"O.K. And when you do the EVA and find damage, what do you do then?"
That's a good one!
That would have felt quite lonely "HELP!" ..but can you imagine the dream-ratings on TV worldwide for over 1 week?
That would have been good for the global economy...
(Sorry...not the right moment I know, but couln't resist).
But really: imagine they do EVA, they find that the wing is damaged and tiles are lost... then what? Only chance would be to dock on the ISS for survival.
That's a good one!
That would have felt quite lonely "HELP!" ..but can you imagine the dream-ratings on TV worldwide for over 1 week?
That would have been good for the global economy...
(Sorry...not the right moment I know, but couln't resist).
But really: imagine they do EVA, they find that the wing is damaged and tiles are lost... then what? Only chance would be to dock on the ISS for survival.