Discovery ready for the liftoff

Alexa · 07-26-2005, 04:14 PM

NASA is ready for the liftoff of Discovery shuttle for a 12-day supply and repairs of the space station. It took 2 years for another launch since the accident of Columbia.

Quote:

A retired agent in NASA's inspector general office, Joseph Gutheinz, said the space agency does not appear to have learned its lesson with Columbia.

Accident investigators criticized NASA's tendency to downplay risks and discourage engineers from speaking up.

"It is clear to me that NASA continues to put mission over safety," Gutheinz told The Associated Press.

"I fear that if NASA is wrong this time, as they were for Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia, manned space missions may be halted for a very long time in the United States."

http://sympaticomsn.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1122372603042_138?hub=topstories

Leto · 07-26-2005, 10:13 PM

Successful taking-off. Wish them a good trip and hope they'll have a safe landing.

Princess Ivy · 07-26-2005, 11:43 PM

best wishes go with them, until i can join them :wink:

Alexa · 07-27-2005, 12:08 AM

Oh, I wish to see the space station in person. :smilie:

This time no accident. I hope they'll keep that way till the end of the mission. They can replace shuttles, but the astronauts is another story.

Stalker · 07-28-2005, 12:55 PM

No doubt, you'll make a perfect group of astranauts, ladies. :wink:
Wish you good luck as well to those of the crew on board of Discovery. :smilie:

Leto · 07-28-2005, 01:34 PM

better luck than them. Seems like Discovery lost some of its parts during take-off. Hope it will be of no incidence during the return trip.

Princess Ivy · 07-28-2005, 02:02 PM

i have got to start watching the news again

Alexa · 07-28-2005, 03:35 PM

Do you know what parts, Leto ? I lost the liftoff. :redface:

Leto · 07-28-2005, 03:57 PM

The foam around the reactors :
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articl...le-foam28.html

Alexa · 07-28-2005, 04:55 PM

I didn't understand from the article if the crew would be in danger coming back.

I'm not a specialist, but having all those hundred of millions to improve the external tank, how the hell they've missed that part ?