NASA grounds shuttle fleet

[strandinthewind]

A friend of mine is an engineer for NASA and said that the shuttle often sustaons minor damage during any take off. Thus, that could account for debris. The last shuttle sustained significant damage of the heat retardant tiles, which is what doomed it. It reamins to be seen if the same thing has happened here. I pray for their safety though.

[DrummerDeanna]

I just saw that article too

Crazy. I do hope that this shuttle gets back safely.

[Mokona]

I think it's time they start thinking about seriously retiring this program. These orbiters are all pretty old and have gone above and beyond what was initially expected of them. How many more safe launches can they expect to have? It's always been risky, but it seems even more so now.

I'm really worried about the astronauts and am just hoping they'll all come back safe and sound. NASA's employees are some of the smartest people on earth, but I think bureaucracy gets in the way of them making good decisions sometimes.

[skcin]

So, at the risk of starting yet another heated argument, um, why the hell are we still spending gazillions of dollars to keep going up into space? I kind of agree with those remote satellite things to take pics of things really far away to keep exploring, but isn't manned space flight kind of "been there, done that?" Are they going to the moon again? If so, for what? If not, then what are they doing?

I just think that money could be better spent on other things.

[ryan8472]

What fleet? I thought they only had one or two left to begin with?

[Mokona]

No, the initial fleet of shuttles consisted of Columbia, Challenger, Discovery and Atlantis. The last two and Columbia (before the accident) were joined by Endeavour, which rolled off the assembly line in '92. Why they don't use the newest of the shuttles is beyond me.

As for continuing to go up, I will always hope they at least send satellites up there so we can keep exploring and discovering new things about the galaxy, but I'm not sure about manned missions anymore, at least for now. There have been a lot of benefits that came from the space programs, but they need to reconsider if all of this is really worth it right now. One scrubbed launch costs over $600K, which can buy a lot of food and medication for people here on Earth.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by skcin

So, at the risk of starting yet another heated argument, um, why the hell are we still spending gazillions of dollars to keep going up into space?

Because Chimpy wants to go to Mars.
Honestly, I have no idea. I think some of it had to do with keeping the Hubble telescope and space station operational.

[GardenStateGirlie]

Originally Posted by skcin

So, at the risk of starting yet another heated argument, um, why the hell are we still spending gazillions of dollars to keep going up into space? I kind of agree with those remote satellite things to take pics of things really far away to keep exploring, but isn't manned space flight kind of "been there, done that?" Are they going to the moon again? If so, for what? If not, then what are they doing?

I just think that money could be better spent on other things.

This mission was to get supplies to the International Space Station and to take back with them, things taking up room on the Space Station that are no longer needed. Currently, an American and a Russian are on the Space Station and have been there for several months. I believe they return to Earth later this year.
Timeline of Mission

[Mokona]

They were talking before about keeping the program running until 2010, and then retiring the fleet. They had better think again about that idea.

[GardenStateGirlie]

Originally Posted by Mokona

They were talking before about keeping the program running until 2010, and then retiring the fleet. They had better think again about that idea.

Considering all of the brain power at NASA, i'm surprised they haven't come up with newer technology to impliment as far as protecting the space shuttle from burning up on re-entry, etc. If they can find a way to keep cameras on the fuel tanks as the shuttle ascents from Earth's atmosphere, then surely they can come up with something for the actual shuttle itself where there won't be nearly as much debris loss.

[skcin]

^ Well what the f*ck are they doing up there?

[GardenStateGirlie]

Originally Posted by skcin

^ Well what the f*ck are they doing up there?

There are many experiments and tests that are done while onboard the Space Station as well as while the space shuttle is in orbit. As much as I think money could better be spent elsewhere, I can then argue with the fact that I sat at the DMV for an hour yesterday while a bunch of overpaid, underworked state government assholes did absolutely nothing. I can also argue the fact that it's a waste of government money to send out zillions of forms per year. I have a friend that works for the IRS and designs the tax forms. If he ****s up a form, it costs the government a few million dollars. Imagine where all of that money could be better spent. "Out of a $2.4 trillion budget, less than 0.8% is spent on the entire space program." Hardly breaking the bank, IMO.

I think there is and has been much learned from experimentation health and science wise that we can then utilize here on Earth. If you want to take a look at all of the advancements in technology that have been improved on and invented courtesy of the space program, this is a site to take a look at.

http://www.thespaceplace.com/nasa/spinoffs.html

[bikerchic]

Originally Posted by skcin

^ Well what the f*ck are they doing up there?

Because you are the "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA", King of the world, nuff said

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by Mokona

I think it's time they start thinking about seriously retiring this program. These orbiters are all pretty old and have gone above and beyond what was initially expected of them. How many more safe launches can they expect to have? It's always been risky, but it seems even more so now.

I think this was one of the last missions with the existing shuttles.