Reuters Breaking
8-2-5
12:06 AM PDT
SPACE SHUTTLE MISSING; LARGE 'UNKNOWN' OBJECT ON RADAR
CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA - NASA Mission Control spokesman, Iris Tennant,
announced that Discovery was lost on radar early Tuesday morning. Tracking
stations, both ground based and in orbit, were unable to find any trace of
the shuttle, with its seven-member crew aboard.
Reports from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in Pasadena, California
indicate a large unknown aerial object was picked up on radar scopes at
two ground stations. It moved to the exact location of Discovery. The
object was reportedly "five times" the size of the shuttle craft,
according to Gray Speckler, JPL spokesman.
"It moved at supersonic speed, perhaps 1000 mph," Speckler said, "and it
was more or less oval in shape. The radar return was strong, indicating a
very solid mass much like the shuttle."
"When the unknown object seemed to merge, or overlap, the Discovery's
radar image, the object shot off into deep space. At that moment, we could
see that Discovery was no longer on our radar scan," Speckler said.
The White House was notified, but Press Secretary Scott McClellan's
spokesman, Bill Lundquist, said President Bush was sleeping and probably
would not be notified until he awakes.
Spokespersons for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said that he would be
"immediately notified" when he awakened at about 5 a.m. EDT.
http://www.apnews.myway/breaking6562967-lude.html
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| User: "Doc" |
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| Title: Re: SPACE SHUTTLE MISSING; LARGE 'UNKNOWN' OBJECT ON RADAR |
03 Aug 2005 05:51:46 AM |
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"Doc" <bushelsofbushrot@HellsHereNow.com> wrote in message
news:dcn5gi0vf0@enews4.newsguy.com...
Reuters Breaking
8-2-5
12:06 AM PDT
SPACE SHUTTLE MISSING; LARGE 'UNKNOWN' OBJECT ON RADAR
CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA - NASA Mission Control spokesman, Iris Tennant,
announced that Discovery was lost on radar early Tuesday morning.
Tracking stations, both ground based and in orbit, were unable to find
any trace of the shuttle, with its seven-member crew aboard.
Reports from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in Pasadena, California
indicate a large unknown aerial object was picked up on radar scopes at
two ground stations. It moved to the exact location of Discovery. The
object was reportedly "five times" the size of the shuttle craft,
according to Gray Speckler, JPL spokesman.
"It moved at supersonic speed, perhaps 1000 mph," Speckler said, "and it
was more or less oval in shape. The radar return was strong, indicating
a very solid mass much like the shuttle."
"When the unknown object seemed to merge, or overlap, the Discovery's
radar image, the object shot off into deep space. At that moment, we
could see that Discovery was no longer on our radar scan," Speckler
said.
The White House was notified, but Press Secretary Scott McClellan's
spokesman, Bill Lundquist, said President Bush was sleeping and probably
would not be notified until he awakes.
Spokespersons for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said that he would
be "immediately notified" when he awakened at about 5 a.m. EDT.
http://www.apnews.myway/breaking6562967-lude.html
Didn't anyone fall for this one? Jeez...I'm slipping...LOL...
Doc ;)
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| User: "" |
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| Title: NASA 'goofed' re-entry risk |
02 Aug 2005 03:38:55 AM |
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www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,16124590%5E661,00.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
NASA 'goofed' re-entry risk
Adam Harvey
02aug05
AUSTRALIAN astronaut Andy Thomas has questioned NASA over the launch of
Discovery last week amid admissions the space agency "goofed" on key
safety checks.
Shuttle Picture Gallery
His frank comments come as NASA battles a fresh crisis.
Engineers said two pieces of material sticking out from the shuttle's
belly may put the craft at risk during re-entry.
Engineers are in strong disagreement about whether the material, which
normally sits in the cracks between shuttle tiles, constitutes a risk.
The protruding material may cause localised overheating, which could be
extremely dangerous.
The astronauts may have to undertake a risky space walk beneath the
shuttle to try to remove the material or push it back between the
cracks.
NASA said the problem may have occurred during previous flights but
gone unnoticed because the gap filler burnt off during re-entry.
It was noticed this time thanks to the array of new sensors and cameras
fitted to Discovery.
Engineers are expected to decide tomorrow whether to try to fix the gap
filler during a space walk on Wednesday.
The seven astronauts aboard Discovery believe they are safe to return
home. But they are disappointed foam came off the shuttle's redesigned
fuel tank after NASA analysis that the specific area did not need to be
improved after the Columbia tragedy.
"It didn't strike us, but nonetheless we're very, very troubled and
very disappointed that such a thing could happen," Dr Thomas said.
"The area where the foam came off is an area that was not examined or
decisions were made not to look at it, and not to test the foam there.
I think we do need to address why was that decision made. Was that
decision made out of concern for damaging the foam? Was there some
technical reason why they made that decision, or was it subject to cost
pressures or schedule pressures?"
NASA administrator Michael Griffin admitted pre-flight safety checks
had fallen short.
"Our judgment at the time was that it was OK. As everyone has said
without any attempt to hide it . . . we goofed on that one," he said.
Two astronauts yesterday began the second space walk of the mission in
a bid to replace a faulty gyroscope aboard the International Space
Station.
Donning bulky space suits, Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi and
American Steve Robinson last night moved into Discovery's airlock.
They will also test the exit hatch after they move into the cargo bay
after some difficulties were experienced while closing the hatch after
the space walk on Saturday, according to US space officials.
Discovery is due to return to Cape Canaveral on Monday,August 8th,
2005.
========================================================================
www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,16124590%5E661,00.html
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: NASA 'goofed' re-entry risk |
02 Aug 2005 03:55:00 AM |
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sO THEY're either FRICKED or SUPERFRICKED......
Sorry Andy -- was nice knowing ya !
HOOROO
UNCLE WALLY
=====================================
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