NASA grounds shuttle fleet

[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

[estranged4life]

have yet another interesting item to discuss with my sister Lesa, Whose husband Scott knows a few people on this shuttle (He works on the F-22's at Edwards and knows a bunch of NASA folk).

Hope everything turns out to be alright for 'em...

[Mokona]

I agree about the government workers. There are many who work very hard and deserve their benefits and pay, but then there's the goof-offs who just milk the system and basically can't be fired. My uncle works for the government and has told the family some stories.

As for why NASA hasn't come up with better technology, they seem like they've been in a rut for 20+ years with this shuttle and have been victims of their own decisions at times. They were warned by a couple of Morton Thiokol's engineers back in '86 about the danger the cold presented to Challenger's SRB's O-rings, yet they chose not to heed that advice. They also knew these orbiters were aging and weren't going to continue to hold up that well to repeated launches, yet ignored some of their own engineers' warnings.

I think it's like any government organization - the people with the most promise are probably stuck in the middle somewhere and have to go through layers of management to get an idea across, while the big ego suits are running the show. Money is a factor too - there have been a lot of cutbacks in spending for the space program.

[GardenStateGirlie]

Originally Posted by Mokona

I agree about the government workers. There are many who work very hard and deserve their benefits and pay, but then there's the goof-offs who just milk the system and basically can't be fired. My uncle works for the goverment and has told the family some stories.

As for why NASA hasn't come up with better technology, they seem like they've been in a rut for 20+ years with this shuttle and have been victims of their own decisions at times. They were warned by a couple of Morton Thiokol's engineers back in '86 about the danger the cold presented to Challenger's SRB's O-rings, yet they chose not to heed that advice. They also knew these orbiters were aging and weren't going to continue to hold up that well to repeated launches, yet ignored some of their own engineers' warnings.

I think it's like any government organization - the people with the most promise are probably stuck in the middle somewhere and have to go through layers of management to get an idea across, while the big ego suits are running the show. Money is a factor too - there have been a lot of cutbacks in spending for the space program.

After the Columbia accident and after NASA came under fire, wasn't it then brought under new leadership? It seems like there's a whole new regime so-to-speak. No doubt, after what happened to Columbia, if they want a space program of any sort to be in existance, they'll wise up and become much more conscious of design flaws which is what I think we're seeing here. Honestly, they could retire the fleet all together and make money off of the parts if not use them for something else.

[Mokona]

This article sheds some light on NASA's personnel and some of their challenges:

http://p134.news.scd.yahoo.com/s/cpr...tle_rusty_nasa

They don't make flight directors like Gene Kranz and Chris Kraft anymore either. Guys like those were one in a million flight directors and Kranz was instrumental in bringing Apollo 13's astronauts back home. NASA needs people like those with great minds, piloting ability and good decision-making skills.

[GardenStateGirlie]

Originally Posted by Mokona

This article sheds some light on NASA's personnel and some of their challenges:

http://p134.news.scd.yahoo.com/s/cpr...tle_rusty_nasa

They don't make flight directors like Gene Kranz and Chris Kraft anymore either. Guys like those were one in a million and both were to be credited with bringing Apollo 13 down safely. NASA needs people like those with great minds, piloting ability and good decision-making skills.

Thanks for the read. I've had a look at all of the profiles for the astronauts and I think their background is pretty amazing. Let's hope they all do come home safely with their prior knowledge and the training they've received.

[greatdarkwing]

Originally Posted by GardenStateGirlie

Thanks for the read. I've had a look at all of the profiles for the astronauts and I think their background is pretty amazing. Let's hope they all do come home safely with their prior knowledge and the training they've received.

Agreed. I hope all goes well for them. I loved how they were woken up this morning with "I Got You Babe."

[GardenStateGirlie]

Images Used For Shuttle Briefing

You can see exactly which section has lost tile. I mean, they literally have each piece of tile accounted for and down to a fine science.

[greatdarkwing]

Originally Posted by GardenStateGirlie

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

YOU ARE SOOO HOT!