Even if I didn't know folks involved with this mission (and being under 5 miles from JSC, it would be hard not to know someone involved in it), I'd recognize that this decision is one with no room for error. That's why I'm surprised by this report.

Experiments conducted last night at NASAÂ’s Johnson Space Center in Houston indicated that temperatures inside a gouge on the underside of the space shuttle Endeavour were not likely to become dangerously hot during reentry.

Coupled with computer simulations that also indicated that the shuttleÂ’s aluminum frame would stay under 350 degrees Fahrenheit, mission managers may decide today to forgo any type of repair and allow Endeavour to fly home as is.

Officials have decided to delay a decision an extra day while analysis of the data continues.

Realizing that I am not a scientist, nor am I familiar with the data in question, I would hope that the final decision would be to add a space walk and make the repairs. NASA can ill-afford to lose the life of this brave crew, nor can it afford the damage that models indicate could occur without the repairs. Better to play it safe and preserve the space program than risk the loss of support that either of those two outcomes would likely cause.

Posted by: Greg at 02:24 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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