Damage to Atlantis, breaking on MSNBC

[nadinbrzezinski]

All I can say is SHIT

[JitterbugPerfume]

1. a real tragedy if they can't get Hubble repaired

damn!

There is a rescue plan for the crew

[Mr Rabble]

2. Not surprising really. Here is a great resource for all-

Arsenal of Hypocrisy: The Space Program and the Military Industrial Complex

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=arsenal+of+hypocrisy&hl=en&emb=0&aq=0&oq=arsenal+of+h#

[WeDidIt]

3. That's what happens when you use thirty year old technology n/t

[bdamomma]

6. crap playing russian roulette with these astronauts.

[Ptah]

4. NASA says the damage does not appear to be serious, but more analysis is needed.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hmAbhsBmFNtUiujxUzpEVlHxVADgD984RVMO4

Astronauts uncover long line of nicks on shuttle

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The Atlantis astronauts have uncovered a long stretch of nicks on their space shuttle, the result of launch debris.

They were inspecting their ship Tuesday for signs of launch damage when they came across the nicks. Mission Control informed the crew that it's a 21-inch stretch of nicks over four to five thermal tiles on the right side of Atlantis. The damage is where the right wing joins the fuselage.

Mission Control says it could be related to debris that came off the fuel tank almost two minutes after liftoff.

NASA says the damage does not appear to be serious, but more analysis is needed.

[Ezlivin]

5. No, no, no!

I hope this doesn't mean that they'll have to launch Endeavour. If so, that's the end of our shuttle program.

I wish we could re-do history and have NASA stick with the tried-and-true Saturn 5. There were too many cooks in the kitchen when the shuttle was cooked up.

[Zywiec]

10. The space shuttle is being retired next year regardless. n/t

[Gold Metal Flake]

7. Latest from program RSS page

http://www.nasa.gov/rss/125_update.xml

Heat Shield Survey Continuing
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 11:19 AM
The inspection of the shuttle's heat shield is continuing. Today's mission status briefing with Lead Flight Director Tony Ceccaci is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. EDT on NASA TV. Afterward, NASA TV will air the ISS Progress 33 docking to the International Space Station, expected at 3:23 p.m. The post-MMT briefing with MMT Chair Leroy Cain is set for 5 p.m.

[Gold Metal Flake]

8. MSNBC five minutes ago

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30700789/

"Mission flight director Tony Ceccacci said that sensors had indicated some impacts to the wing about 103 seconds after launch, which led engineers to take a close look at the inspection imagery. Ceccacci said tiles on the wing had "some dings in them," but the preliminary assessment was that the damage was not serious."

Not sure hand-wringing is warrented at this point.

[WeDidIt]

9. "Dings" happen on enarly every launch

If that's all there is, no problems.

[Posteritatis]

11. I'm pretty sure there's been tile damage in every single launch (nt)

[metapunditedgy]

13. And the media makes a big deal on almost every launch.

It could be serious, but we hardly know that yet.

(Although I'd think a wing joint is a bad place to have insulation problems, maybe more turbulence there.)

[opihimoimoi]

14. LOL....where is the Duct tape when ya really need it? Damn (wink)

[fumsm]

12. It is baffling, 100's of billions of dollars...

and they damage it with a few cents worth of foam.

[October]

15. I think Endeavor shuttle is on standby for rescue

Supposed to be able to launch within a week.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

16. That's what I heard on the day of the launching.