Space Shuttle Explosion

[Philip]

p8ntballr07 --- my guess is that nasa was trying to save money by not buying a new shuttle so that one was old and the heat proof tiles were getting warn down

They use all of their shuttles more than once, this shuttle was made in 1982 i think, i have a picture of it here before it took off in Jan and it looked really ****ty. They said in a statement that they noticed something fall free and hit the tiles before takeoff but they said to continue because it was safe to go.

 

[JoseDominguez]

It's the fuel from the boosters they are most worried about, full of nasty carcinogens, and the lab in the payload bay could have been packed with stuff. I think it's mainly a "scare the scavengers" thing though, to put off the idiots that might try to snag some evidence for E-bay.
Currently looks like damage on take-off effected the left underwing, as all of the sensors went out in series there. And with a lab in the back... no robot arm, air lock or docking port, so even if they'd been aware, no EVA to check it out.
News this morning was that the booster that lost insulation on take-off was an old model that NASA has supposedly fased out, there's only one other one left and the company no longer make them, so it looks like someone is for the high jump.
Columbia is (was) also the oldest shuttle in the fleet, so lots of questions.

 

[JoseDominguez]

Help, why'd my little stars go yellow? what've I caught now?

 

[Jones the Paint Magnet]

http://www.floridatoday.com/space/explore/probes/cassini/cass07.htm

Seems like it certainly has been a problem in the past. eek!

 

[JTHM]

Tyger,
While your plausable theory sounds good, NASA should have realised the Shuttle was out of control with all of the sensors they have on the thing.
In fact the sensors showed a loss of tire pressure ( leads one to believe that the torch theory carries some weight) and indications that the sensors on the left wing were dropping out of service rapidly just before blowing up.
I have seen video of the Shuttle ( as you may have a well ) that shows it clearly gliding as normal and you can see the entire rear profile shaped perfectly in the clear sky, and then watch it disinegrate. It's flight pattern seemed fine just before failure.

I'm not saying your wrong....just pointing out what I saw and heard.

 

[Tyger]

If the tire pressure was dropping, it would indicate tht the air was getting smaller, or colder. If tire pressure was INCREASING, then the tire would be warmed up.

The video I've seen doesn't really show the "outkline" of hte shuttle, as much as a glowing falling ball. I haven't seen anything of the outline of the shuttle. Actually, do oyu know if that's available online somewhere?

Latest theory I've heard from Nasa had something to do with the left wing being bashed by Elvis, or something. Actually, I'm willing ot wait on it, but I still dont' buy the tile "Blowtorch" theory, because it would have gone up earlier than 16 minutes to landing, IMHO.

(Edit add) : One other thing too, the shuttle sensors aren't like a black box on an airplane. Flights are recorded, but it's not like a flight data recorder. The Shuttle's computing power was made in the late 70's. A "PDA" would give it a run for it's money, and the computer sitting 2 feet to my left would blow it away. It's an amazing machine, but keep in mind what we're dealing with too. The only 'voice' recording htey've got was recorded on the GROUND.

-Tyger

 

[JoseDominguez]

yup, agreed, still looks like a tile peeled off. I'd take some of the photo's with a pinch of salt too, remember the top of the twin towers etc... some of the shuttle shots in today's papers look a little too "photoshop".