T-Bird76
2005-08-02, 11:15 PM
In what NASA says will require "a delicate touch" the shuttle Discovery will undergo repairs to remove a protruding piece of filler material between the Discovery's protective heat tiles. This will be the first time a repair like this has been attempted in space and while unknown if the piece poses a threat to the orbiter NASA isn't taking any chances.
This raises the question at least for me, why aren't we building a new vehicle for space travel? For the last two years NASA has worked to ensure no piece of insulation falls off the fuel tank that could cause damage to the shuttle and that the heat tiles aren't compromised. So what happens a piece falls off and the tiles are compromised, NASA's excuse was they didn't check that area because they didn't think it was critical, guess what they'll be looking at that part of the fuel tank next time I assure you. As for the tiles I don't recall seeing anything from NASA on why they think that happened.....
The biggest problem I see with NASA and our space program is its a not for profit organization. People say their desire for success is exploration and I'm 100% sure that is the case but where is the accountability? Could you imagine being a stockholder in NASA right now if they were a public company? I'd be dumping my stock faster then a fat kid on a cupcake. There is no reason with the exception of Governmental bull**** that our space program shouldn't be fifty years ahead of where it is now. If this keeps up I say take the money and give it to private entrepreneurs like Burt Rutan through public grants. Lets give private industry a chance to see if they can reach the stars.
All I can say is God speed on Discovery’s safe return to Earth.
This raises the question at least for me, why aren't we building a new vehicle for space travel? For the last two years NASA has worked to ensure no piece of insulation falls off the fuel tank that could cause damage to the shuttle and that the heat tiles aren't compromised. So what happens a piece falls off and the tiles are compromised, NASA's excuse was they didn't check that area because they didn't think it was critical, guess what they'll be looking at that part of the fuel tank next time I assure you. As for the tiles I don't recall seeing anything from NASA on why they think that happened.....
The biggest problem I see with NASA and our space program is its a not for profit organization. People say their desire for success is exploration and I'm 100% sure that is the case but where is the accountability? Could you imagine being a stockholder in NASA right now if they were a public company? I'd be dumping my stock faster then a fat kid on a cupcake. There is no reason with the exception of Governmental bull**** that our space program shouldn't be fifty years ahead of where it is now. If this keeps up I say take the money and give it to private entrepreneurs like Burt Rutan through public grants. Lets give private industry a chance to see if they can reach the stars.
All I can say is God speed on Discovery’s safe return to Earth.