Who would be an Astronaut?

**Lou Girardin** · 28th July 2005, 13:06

It looks like the Shuttle lost another thermal tile on launch.

I sure wouldn't want to be them right now. Ground control are trying to work out if it can manage a re-entry or if they'll need to mount a rescue mission.
But then they've grounded other shuttles too. What'll they send up?

**Motu** · 28th July 2005, 13:09

Originally Posted by Lou Girardin

. What'll they send up?

Give me the details - I'll have a shot at it...

**Sniper** · 28th July 2005, 13:13

Oh well, their fault.

**k14** · 28th July 2005, 13:17

Originally Posted by Lou Girardin

What'll they send up?

Yeah thats what I was wondering, another space shuttle so that then they have 2 crews stuck up there?? The time constraints alone must be enough to count out any rescue mission. They can't have much food, water etc to be able to live for very much longer than the actual mission timeline. It would take atleast a month if not more to sort out a new shuttle etc to go up and "rescue" them.

Or do the russians or something have a spacecraft that can go up and get them? Major disaster either way imo.

**Ixion** · 28th July 2005, 13:19

Originally Posted by Motu

Give me the details - I'll have a shot at it...

Mr Motu is very good at send ups

**bugjuice** · 28th July 2005, 13:24

watching it a couple of times via the wonderful intermaweb, the tile looks like it came off the external fuel tank, not the shuttle, and didn't go anywhere near the shuttle. In fact, I thought it could more likely be part of the release mechanism from the two smaller solid fuel tanks.. But then again, I'm not a space rocket dude.. I just post on a forum, thinkin I know shit.. which is pretty much all I do know

Also, bird strike on the nose cone too.. Think that beats Spanks '200+kmh' bird strike from last year..

**sAsLEX** · 28th July 2005, 13:35

Originally Posted by k14

Yeah thats what I was wondering, another space shuttle so that then they have 2 crews stuck up there?? The time constraints alone must be enough to count out any rescue mission. They can't have much food, water etc to be able to live for very much longer than the actual mission timeline. It would take atleast a month if not more to sort out a new shuttle etc to go up and "rescue" them.

Or do the russians or something have a spacecraft that can go up and get them? Major disaster either way imo.

umm theres that little thing called the space station, it has been said they could shelter in there.

as fot buggy, I heard a report saying that the front lading gear cover had been impacted which is the hottest part on re-entry

**k14** · 28th July 2005, 13:53

Originally Posted by sAsLEX

umm theres that little thing called the space station, it has been said they could shelter in there.

Yeah thats where they were going in the first place wasnt it?? It doesn't have an infinite supply of food on it etc so they can't stay there forever.

**placidfemme** · 28th July 2005, 14:12

*doesn't see the point in going to space...*

Bummer, for the families sake I hope they get them back alive...

**onearmedbandit** · 28th July 2005, 14:23

They had it planned that if there was a problem with re-entry, they would send Atlantis up within a month to rescue the crew from the ISS. And it would seem, as someone said, that a heat-tile came off from around the nose-gear area which is one of the hottest areas upon re-entry.

Or so I've read.

**Drunken Monkey** · 28th July 2005, 14:25

I'd still go for it, despite the risks. Must be that pioneering spirit or something. Plus, chicks dig astronaughts. Well if they don't, they should.

**placidfemme** · 28th July 2005, 14:28

Originally Posted by Drunken Monkey

I'd still go for it, despite the risks. Must be that pioneering spirit or something. Plus, chicks dig astronaughts. Well if they don't, they should.

why cause they go to space?

blah astronaughts are boring... chicks dig bikers... and rich people lol

**Waylander** · 28th July 2005, 14:45

Originally Posted by k14

Yeah thats where they were going in the first place wasnt it?? It doesn't have an infinite supply of food on it etc so they can't stay there forever.

They can send unmanned craft to the station. Have it supplied with food, water, air, shit to fix the shuttle and whatever else.

**sAsLEX** · 28th July 2005, 14:47

Originally Posted by placidfemme

*doesn't see the point in going to space...*

Aiming for space has advanced technology and has the opurtunity to increase our understanding of the world and ourselves through study unaffected by gravity. You got a teflon pot at home??

Other problems also challenge NASA and the ISS. A Russian Soyuz spacecraft was supposed to be launched on October 28. It was to bring a fresh emergency escape capsule to the ISS. However, a crewless version of the Soyuz had recently exploded shortly before the scheduled launch. The Russian space agency investigated the cause. After this delay, the Soyuz spacecraft was launched successfully, and the emergency capsule was delivered safely on November 1.

Oh and the space station has escape modules dont it, they could just jump in them. Some russian has parachuted from out space before so theres an idea