NASA & the spaceshuttle

Daxie · 08-05-2005, 11:53 PM

OK... the real reason I came here today maybe this has already been brought up but I really don't have time to go through all the threads to find out....

Well with all this stuff happening up in space right now with the shuttle, I think that this should be a sign that NASA needs to scrub any more scheduled launches untill they build new shuttles. Let's face it.... these shuttles are down-right old. It's pretty much like trusting your 1980 Buick with over 200K miles to drive from New York to California and back... yeah RIIIIIGHT!

I really hope and Pray that the crew make it back safe, but why risk it any more.... it's not really that improtant to risk human lives just to go into space, at least not in these old junky shulltes.... we need to roll out the new 2006 models before going back up.

Discuss.

Bean · 08-06-2005, 12:59 AM

Yeah, it's a shame all your money is tied up in Iraq though...

Brikar · 08-06-2005, 02:25 AM

And that they keep asking for more.

Cymro · 08-07-2005, 04:35 AM

Personally, I'm quite annoyed that they had to put the most recent launch on hold when they did. Why? Because I was half way between Orlando and Cape Canaveral when they announced that they were postponing the launch.

As for the space shuttles in general, their inner components are literally taken apart and rebuilt after each launch, but the problem is that not everything that wears out can be changed, hell even some worn thread on a screw could end up blowing up a shuttle. This will be true for whatever vee-hickle you build. The problem is the budget, because if they build a replacement for the current shuttles, it'll need replacing in a few years.

As I understand it, the only reason the shuttles are still flying is because of the obligation to help build the International Space Station.

Daxie · 08-08-2005, 05:14 PM

yeah... all of our money is tied up into a country who's people don't even want us over there.

Well, I'm looking at the fact that on take off, peices of foam tore off, which is the same problem that brought the Columbia down, luckily this time the foam didn't fly back and hit the fuel tanks (I don't know how to spell 'fuu-suu-lodge').

Once the Discovery was up in space they found out that some pecies of barrier were hanging out and had to remove it, then insulation next to the commander's window is all tore up (I wouldn't want to be sitting the comm seat on the way home knowing that). Anyways, it's just seems like it's a clear sign that if the fleet is getting too old and need too many repairs, we shouldn't send anymore people up in them.

Well, I just heard on the news today that NASA is grounding the fleet to study this foam problem, it just seems that is the most reasonable thing to do, but really, even though it will cost a mint and a half, it would be nice to see them mothball the fleet and start fresh.

BTW Cymro, one of my cousins was in Fla. the day they launchedand got to see the Discovery go up.... just thought I'd throw in that jelousy factor

Brikar · 08-08-2005, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Daxie stopped drinking long enough to mumble

(I don't know how to spell 'fuu-suu-lodge').

Fuselage.

Bean · 08-08-2005, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Daxie stopped drinking long enough to mumble

Once the Discovery was up in space they found out that some pecies of barrier were hanging out and had to remove it, then insulation next to the commander's window is all tore up (I wouldn't want to be sitting the comm seat on the way home knowing that).

If that became a problem I don't htink it would matter what seat you were sitting in.....

Deslok · 08-08-2005, 06:38 PM

Bah, the shuttle is obsolete now that Rutan's craft has proven that there is a better way of getting up there. Rutan's next developments will make the NASA shuttle look like space junk, and I resent my tax dollars being used to waste on this feeble space hoax.

What are they doing anyway, putting telecommunications sattelites up there? Nasa should have been spending the last 20 years building a moonbase and construction facilities on the moon, not to mention a nuclear reactor... NASA = dumbasses!

Daxie · 08-15-2005, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Deslok stopped drinking long enough to mumble

What are they doing anyway, putting telecommunications sattelites up there? Nasa should have been spending the last 20 years building a moonbase and construction facilities on the moon, not to mention a nuclear reactor... NASA = dumbasses!

yep I totally agree with that! how many friggn sattelites so we need up there any way? I mean really?

Yeah, OK, I understand that this mission was to trasport supplies to the station and that even if we; the people of Earth; construct a moon-based station the need will still be there to ship supplies as well as send back stuff to study, ie. moon rocks, and until we have some sort of 'beam me up Scotty' type trasproters then the focus of NASA or any other simular space program in other countries should be to make sure that the crafts that are hualing live people are safe.

You know, I thought the whole point of exploring space was to see what's out there and possibly find new life, with the whole Mars mission aside.... what are these guys really doing up there in that station anyways? Just wondering.

P.S. It seems to me that when I was a kid, there was some type of grand plan to build a moonstation and eventually conilize the moon. Am I wrong in that thinking?

Bean · 08-15-2005, 11:59 PM

You have to remember two things though Daxie. When the space program first got big, with moon landings and such, there were two major driving forces that just aren't there anymore. The cold war for one. It wasn't just about exploration yadda yadda.. It was about one upping the Soviet Union. Let's not kid ourselves, the only reason the moon landings were made a prority to the govt is because the US was in danger of being shown up again (See: Sputnik and Yuri Gagarrin) by the USSR.

The second factor, is that it was new. It was all amazing. I mean when was the last time that the entire nation sat down to watch a rocket launch. The only reason Discovery was such a big deal is that everyone was sitting waiting to see if it would explode.

Neither of these two factors are present, and I don't think that there's a similar driving force anywhere near on the horizon. The space program has gone the way of every other govt venture since the beginning of time. Polluted with beauracracy and people striving for political gain. It's all but dead. The real future of the space program is in private ventures from corporations. NASA is nothing more than a satellite maintenance company now, and it's not coming back.

08-05-2005, 11:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
Daxie Patrons Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 1,010	NASA & the spaceshuttle OK... the real reason I came here today maybe this has already been brought up but I really don't have time to go through all the threads to find out.... Well with all this stuff happening up in space right now with the shuttle, I think that this should be a sign that NASA needs to scrub any more scheduled launches untill they build new shuttles. Let's face it.... these shuttles are down-right old. It's pretty much like trusting your 1980 Buick with over 200K miles to drive from New York to California and back... yeah RIIIIIGHT! I really hope and Pray that the crew make it back safe, but why risk it any more.... it's not really that improtant to risk human lives just to go into space, at least not in these old junky shulltes.... we need to roll out the new 2006 models before going back up. Discuss. __________________ >Hagar: "Before we go into battle today let me remind you what we're fighting for! We're fighting for justice! We're fighting for equality! What could be more important than that?" >>Eddie: "How about a steady paycheck, health insurance and a good retirement plan?"

08-06-2005, 12:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
Bean The Awesome One Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: Canada eh! Posts: 5,055	Yeah, it's a shame all your money is tied up in Iraq though... __________________ "I haven't faced death. I've cheated death. I've tricked my way out of death and patted myself on the back for my ingenuity. I know nothing." --James T. Kirk

08-06-2005, 02:25 AM	#3 (permalink)
Brikar The Dude Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 3,606	And that they keep asking for more. __________________ "A million monkeys typing until the end of time will produce the complete works of William Shakespeare. Ten thousand monkeys typing for ten thousand years will write a Hemingway. Ten monkeys typing over Columbus Day weekend will give you a Dan Brown." http://olympusmans.blogspot.com http://benforrealz.blogspot.com

08-07-2005, 04:35 AM	#4 (permalink)
Cymro Religious Fanatic Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Shitsville, CF63 Posts: 4,921	Personally, I'm quite annoyed that they had to put the most recent launch on hold when they did. Why? Because I was half way between Orlando and Cape Canaveral when they announced that they were postponing the launch. As for the space shuttles in general, their inner components are literally taken apart and rebuilt after each launch, but the problem is that not everything that wears out can be changed, hell even some worn thread on a screw could end up blowing up a shuttle. This will be true for whatever vee-hickle you build. The problem is the budget, because if they build a replacement for the current shuttles, it'll need replacing in a few years. As I understand it, the only reason the shuttles are still flying is because of the obligation to help build the International Space Station. __________________ "Let me tell you something about humans, nephew: They're a wonderful, friendly people - as long as their bellies are full and their holosuites are working. "But take away their creature comforts, deprive them of food, sleep, sonic showers, put their lives in jeopardy over an extended period of time and those friendly, intelligent, wonderful people...will become as nasty and as violent as the most blood-thirsty klingon."

08-08-2005, 05:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
Daxie Patrons Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 1,010	yeah... all of our money is tied up into a country who's people don't even want us over there. Well, I'm looking at the fact that on take off, peices of foam tore off, which is the same problem that brought the Columbia down, luckily this time the foam didn't fly back and hit the fuel tanks (I don't know how to spell 'fuu-suu-lodge'). Once the Discovery was up in space they found out that some pecies of barrier were hanging out and had to remove it, then insulation next to the commander's window is all tore up (I wouldn't want to be sitting the comm seat on the way home knowing that). Anyways, it's just seems like it's a clear sign that if the fleet is getting too old and need too many repairs, we shouldn't send anymore people up in them. Well, I just heard on the news today that NASA is grounding the fleet to study this foam problem, it just seems that is the most reasonable thing to do, but really, even though it will cost a mint and a half, it would be nice to see them mothball the fleet and start fresh. BTW Cymro, one of my cousins was in Fla. the day they launchedand got to see the Discovery go up.... just thought I'd throw in that jelousy factor __________________ >Hagar: "Before we go into battle today let me remind you what we're fighting for! We're fighting for justice! We're fighting for equality! What could be more important than that?" >>Eddie: "How about a steady paycheck, health insurance and a good retirement plan?"

08-08-2005, 06:38 PM	#8 (permalink)
Deslok regruntled and reemployed Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: in front of the computer Posts: 1,221	Bah, the shuttle is obsolete now that Rutan's craft has proven that there is a better way of getting up there. Rutan's next developments will make the NASA shuttle look like space junk, and I resent my tax dollars being used to waste on this feeble space hoax. What are they doing anyway, putting telecommunications sattelites up there? Nasa should have been spending the last 20 years building a moonbase and construction facilities on the moon, not to mention a nuclear reactor... NASA = dumbasses! __________________

08-15-2005, 11:59 PM	#10 (permalink)
Bean The Awesome One Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: Canada eh! Posts: 5,055	You have to remember two things though Daxie. When the space program first got big, with moon landings and such, there were two major driving forces that just aren't there anymore. The cold war for one. It wasn't just about exploration yadda yadda.. It was about one upping the Soviet Union. Let's not kid ourselves, the only reason the moon landings were made a prority to the govt is because the US was in danger of being shown up again (See: Sputnik and Yuri Gagarrin) by the USSR. The second factor, is that it was new. It was all amazing. I mean when was the last time that the entire nation sat down to watch a rocket launch. The only reason Discovery was such a big deal is that everyone was sitting waiting to see if it would explode. Neither of these two factors are present, and I don't think that there's a similar driving force anywhere near on the horizon. The space program has gone the way of every other govt venture since the beginning of time. Polluted with beauracracy and people striving for political gain. It's all but dead. The real future of the space program is in private ventures from corporations. NASA is nothing more than a satellite maintenance company now, and it's not coming back. __________________ "I haven't faced death. I've cheated death. I've tricked my way out of death and patted myself on the back for my ingenuity. I know nothing." --James T. Kirk

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