[meteorite-list] NASA grounds future shuttle flights

[Mark Miconi]

Tom,
Nasa stopped painting the fuel tank after the first flight or two to cut 
down on weight. Any kind of netting that would survive the king of 
vibration, sonic stress, and stress from drag would probably add substantial 
weight to the tank. And as I think Chris mentioned the last thing they need 
is a piece peeling away and flapping in the supersonic breeze.
STS has always been a dangerous, experimental, system. Making the orbiter 
reusable is still not something easily done even with the advance of 
technology. Nasa will probably find a workaround for the troublesome foam 
but I think that it will be only a bandaid.
We need a new and better way. Some at NASA must have known this all along. 
They have been very lucky to fly the STS as much as they have with as little 
though far to many deaths.
The nation as a whole has to make a commitment to fly in space and then be 
prepared to pay for it. Space is quickly becoming the high ground. What will 
we do if communist China has bases on the moon and decides to start 
controlling things here on Earth. How do we stop the kind of exploitation 
that will inebvitably occur?

There are no easy answers, and no one seems ready to invest in space, other 
than billboards.
I love space, I grew up as many did with the beginning of the Space program 
and have always wanted to go.
I truly wish that we would mothball the shuttle and stop flying the damn 
thing. The money could be better spent finding a better way. In the meantime 
I am encouraged by the strength and conviction that NASA is now showing. 
Keeping the shuttle on the ground is the worst thing that could happen to 
the program, but the best thing for the heros we have been putting in the 
thing.

Mark M.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Knudson" <peregrineflier at npgcable.com>
To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>; "JKGwilliam" 
<h3chondrite at cox.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2005 4:44 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] NASA grounds future shuttle flights


> Hi John and list, I have to wonder why they do not use some kind of 
> netting
> imbedded in the foam so if it does break off, then it can't go anywhere.
> Kind of like the wire you see in some security glass or the same way they
> use chicken wire under plaster on houses.  If I remember right they spray
> the foam on? If so the can loosely cover the parts with a netting and then
> spray on the foam?
> Thanks, Tom
> peregrineflier <><
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "JKGwilliam" <h3chondrite at cox.net>
> To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2005 4:26 PM
> Subject: [meteorite-list] NASA grounds future shuttle flights
>
>
>>
>>
>> SPACE CENTER, Houston - NASA officials said Wednesday they are grounding
>> future space shuttle flights because foam debris of the type that doomed
>> the shuttle Columbia is still a risk.
>>
>> Read the full article here:
>>
>> <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8720825/>
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> JKGwilliam
>>
>>
>> ______________________________________________
>> Meteorite-list mailing list
>> Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
>> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
>> Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.9.6/59 - Release Date: 7/27/2005
>>
>>
>
> ______________________________________________
> Meteorite-list mailing list
> Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
>