Who would be an Astronaut?

[pete376403]

What I saw on the telly was 1. a large chunk of ice from the external tank, which didn't hit anything, and 2. possibly a tile.
From what I've read, all previous missions have had trouble with tiles falling off. The last mission had damage to a wing leading edge from ice impact damage and that was more that the craft could stand.
This time the crew are goign to do an inspect while in space and they have a repair kit - however NASA are not certain how well it will work.
Finally I don't think anyone becomes an astronaut because of the job security

[James Deuce]

Atlantis is on the pad ready to go for a rescue.

Unlike Columbia, Discovery can get itself to a higher orbit and dock with the International Space Station.

I'd be an Astronaut in flash. It's statistically safer than riding my bike to work.

[Ramius]

The RSA (Russian Space Agency) Can deploy a ship from Earth to rescue the astronauts, should the need arise. I don't think they would risk sending up another American ship if indeed the front Landing gear tile was impacted. And if it has, you can probably kiss NASA's space program goodbye.

[James Deuce]

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

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

Because without exploration and conquest human civilisations die. Without space exploration you wouldn't be posting on an Internet forum. Neither would you have sticky sportsbike tyres, non-stick frypans, polyester fabrics that don't look like shit, and so on. There are a plethora of benefits.

The moment we start looking inward as a society (and I believe we have been for at least 30 years, coinciding with the post-modern revolution) is the moment that each person in society develops a "f__k you" attitude to his fellow man. Crikey! Seems to have happened, doesn't it?

I don't buy the crap I hear that the money would be better spent feeding the world either. Excluding the money spent on the various space programmes, the world has enough food to feed everyone 20 times over. But the US consumes 80% of everything produced in the world all by itself. A big chunk of the world's agri-produce gets dumped.

[James Deuce]

The RSA (Russian Space Agency) Can deploy a ship from Earth to rescue the astronauts, should the need arise. I don't think they would risk sending up another American ship if indeed the front Landing gear tile was impacted. And if it has, you can probably kiss NASA's space program goodbye.

Atlantis is on the pad ready to go.

[Lou Girardin]

I'd be an Astronaut in flash. It's statistically safer than riding my bike to work.

Is that per vehicle?
Per 100,000 km's travelled?
Or per capita?

[James Deuce]

Is that per vehicle?
Per 100,000 km's travelled?
Or per capita?

Lol. Probably all.

[riffer]

A good mate of mine's big brother is booked on the next shuttle flight.

Interestingly enough, he's a mechanical engineer originally.

Could be just the job for him.

On ya Piers! It would be an interesting twist on Hollywood if the poor Merkins had to get saved by a pom.

[N4CR]

AFAIK from a little while ago when I took intrest in space shuttles and what not (still do but to a lesser extent) a tile falling off is normal, infact they usually loose a couple. But as said nose cone is NOT the place you want to loose them... its the frontmost point where all the air gets split, creating heaps of friction at about 20,000kmh and this equals plasma enveloping the shuttle. Which is very friggen hot Even ghost rider ain't that fast.

[vifferman]

So Jim - if you've 're-dorkulated' presumably you de-dorkulated somewhere between initial dorkulation and the re-dorkuation?

Could you tell me how the de-dorkulating is accomplished, so I can attempt it?

[Ramius]

Rescue Plan, however, this was written before NASA said no more shuttles were going up until the continual problem of falling debris is fixed.

http://www.freep.com/news/nw/shuttle13e_20050713.htm

Allegedly, it is going to take over a month for any rescue mission, should the need arise.

[Wolf]

NASA has made amazing advances with its space program - back in the old "Apollo" days they could only kill three people at a time, now with the space shuttles they kill 'em seven at a time.

I am actually pro-space exploration - I just don't want it being done by those Quasi-Military Retards at NASA

[James Deuce]

Rescue Plan, however, this was written before NASA said no more shuttles were going up until the continual problem of falling debris is fixed.

http://www.freep.com/news/nw/shuttle13e_20050713.htm

Allegedly, it is going to take over a month for any rescue mission, should the need arise.

There are degrees of ready. As far as Nasa is concerned that is a hurried launch procedure. Atlantis WILL fly if it needs to. Don't confuse Publicity with process. The Russians would need to launch 4 Soyuz capsule missions, plus deploy the Soyuz "escape" capsule already on the Space Station to effect a rescue mission. No way NASA would pay that bill until the REALLY has to.

[James Deuce]

NASA has made amazing advances with its space program - back in the old "Apollo" days they could only kill three people at a time, now with the space shuttles they kill 'em seven at a time.

And they only killed three during the Apollo programme. That was due to a combination of factors that were investigated and addressed immediately. And as cold as it sounds at least three of the NASA Space programme would probably have died on active military duty if they weren't working for NASA. Death rates in "peace" time naval and land based air forces were orders of magnitude greater than they are now.

As unpalatable as it sounds, the military was the place to recruit people with mechanical, scientific, and flight skills to deal with the early solid state stuff combined with electro-mechanical and hydralic systems that made up a space craft. Jim Lovell and Buzz Aldrin manually navigated the Gemini 12 space capsule using a sextant, something that was thought impossible, due to their combined navigation, astrophysics, and "seat-of-the-pants" flying skills. There is a great deal more to the "average" NASA astronaut, even today, than we give them credit for. Russian cosmonauts get to sit in a steel coffin on a preprogrammed flight plan in a craft that can only be guided from the ground.

[Wolf]

And they only killed three during the Apollo programme. That was due to a combination of factors that were investigated and addressed immediately. And as cold as it sounds at least three of the NASA Space programme would probably have died on active military duty if they weren't working for NASA. Death rates in "peace" time naval and land based air forces were orders of magnitude greater than they are now.

As unpalatable as it sounds, the military was the place to recruit people with mechanical, scientific, and flight skills to deal with the early solid state stuff combined with electro-mechanical and hydralic systems that made up a space craft. Jim Lovell and Buzz Aldrin manually navigated the Gemini 12 space capsule using a sextant, something that was thought impossible, due to their combined navigation, astrophysics, and "seat-of-the-pants" flying skills. There is a great deal more to the "average" NASA astronaut, even today, than we give them credit for. Russian cosmonauts get to sit in a steel coffin on a preprogrammed flight plan in a craft that can only be guided from the ground.

Should've put a PT flag on my post.

Back in the Apollo days they also managed to save the lives of the Apollo 13 crew with innovative thinking and good old fashioned "just make do" - using essentially stone-knife-and-bearskin technology.

I know why they used the Airforce personnel and it was a good choice, I just have a low opinion of the US Military (specifically its commanders and ranking officers - it's pretty much how I feel about all modern military commanders, really)