Subj : NASA, shuttle, anyone?
To   : CHARLES ANGELICH
From : THURSTON ACKERMAN
Date : Mon Aug 15 2005 12:50 am

CA>Hello Wayne -

CA>CA>>> Have been a bit surprised at the lack of interest in this
CA>CA>>> echo of the sloppiness of the recent space shuttle launch?

CA>->> sloppiness??

CA>WC> Yup. Rules stated no launch without all four tank fuel
CA>WC> sensors working. Shuttle not rolled back but delayed.

CA>WC> Intermittent problem with the faulty fuel sensor never
CA>WC> pinned down it happened to be working when they launched
CA>WC> after deciding to override their own safety rules.

CA>That's #1.

CA>The need to remove some sort of 'packing' material that was
CA>protruding from between some tiles and a heat-shielding
CA>'blanket' near the cockpit area that was torn. They removed the
CA>protruding packing but I'm thinking it was in there for a
CA>_reason_ which made me wonder why they were so happy it came
CA>out easily. They decided not to even try to fix the torn
CA>blanket (probably didn't have a replacement for it anyhow).

CA>I would prefer that NASA discontinue launchings of the shuttles
CA>but I have a feeling they will continue until there is another
CA>horrific outcome. :-(

My eldest son's MOS in the Marines was parachute packer. After
some close instructions and practice they got to pack a chute
on their own; then they had to jump at 5k feet altitude to
reinforce the need to be good at their job (and again now and
again when it pleased the Chief of Operations).

Maybe it might help at NASA if some of the Quality Inspectors
of work on the preparation of shuttles drew some short straws
to be included in the next launch crew ?

Stay young, OlAck.

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