Save the Astronauts
The Space Shuttle Discovery launched into outer space last week and NASA is hoping for a successful reentry of the vehicle next week. Still, of the five Space Shuttles, Atlantis, Challenger, Columbia, Discovery, and Endeavour, two were lost in tragic accidents resulting in total loss of life of the crew.
This interview by PBS’ Gwen Ifill with John Logsdon, the director of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University, portrays the overt concerns over the NASA Space Program. Logsdon also served on the accident investigation board which examined the Columbia tragedy in 2003. The nervous tension about this particular Shuttle mission is unsettling because we hope the risks will be worth it. That means, we hope the Shuttle doesn’t disintegrate upon reentry into the earth’s atmosphere. Here is part of the interview:
GWEN IFILL: Amid some nervousness and delay, the space shuttle program returned to orbit this Independence Day. Discovery’s liftoff this afternoon was the first shuttle launch in a year.
So, was the right decision made today to go ahead with this launch?
JOHN LOGSDON: I think so. I think it was a tough decision to make, because the safety officer and the chief engineer of NASA would have liked more time to do some more fixes on the external tank.
Thirteen other senior people said it was time to fly. And NASA Administrator Mike Griffin agreed with that majority, and said, let’s go.
GWEN IFILL: You’re alluding to the fact it was about 10 days ago when these two senior NASA officials said, “I don’t know if we’re ready yet.” And Mike Griffin basically overruled them.
JOHN LOGSDON: He overruled them. But, if he had not, if he had gone with them, he would have overruled 13 other people. So, ultimately, it was Mike’s decision that — that the benefits of going now outweighed the risks. The shuttle is a risky vehicle. There are always going to be risks.
How many more lives is NASA willing to risk? Two out of five shuttles have already been lost. These shuttle missions cost billions of dollars and astronauts’ lives. Where’s the outrage? Why is no one speaking out on behalf of the astronauts? How many more astronauts need to die? For what noble cause? BRING THEM HOME NOW.
Cross-posted at Amy’s Blog
July 8th, 2006 at 1:02 pm
How many men died test-piloting airplanes in the 1940s?
The astronauts knew what they signed up for. No one is speaking out for the astronauts because the cause is noble. JFK said space is the final frontier; we must conquer it
July 8th, 2006 at 1:18 pm
“The *blank* knew what they signed up for.”
The question of nobility is a matter of opinion. It’s a matter of bestowing personal responsibility to those that knew what they signed up for. I knew…
July 8th, 2006 at 3:06 pm
My point is that the anti-war freaks claim to love soldiers so much that they want to save them from war. Well, save some astronauts and the taxpayers BILLIONS of dollars, espeically if you think saving humanity in Iraq is a waste of money.
July 8th, 2006 at 5:26 pm
Have to agree with Don, Captain Kirk and *gasp* JFK on this one: space is, indeed, the final frontier.
And America should be the first nation to explore it (manifest destiny II) and start developing lunar workstations and extraterrestrial habitats. There is much at stake and much to be gained.
After all, if illegal immigration continues unabated, we’ll need the extra *ahem* space…
July 8th, 2006 at 8:15 pm
Actually,the Shuttle program is a boondoggle and they ought to cut the damn things up and sell the pieces on e-bay for souveniers.
As for risking astronaut lives, why can’t we start a “Send a Moonbat into Orbit” program? Since the Shuttle program is likely to continue (at least while some ships survive), why don’t we allow prominent Libs to staff the missions? Hell, most are space cadets anyway—might as well make it official.
Here are my nominations for the first Moonbat Mission:
Commander: Julia “Butterfly” Hill—she’s used to heights and obviously believes she’s kin to flying insects, so she’s a natural to pilot the thing.
Second in Command: John Kerry (who posed in Viet Nam, btw)—he’s dead weight, but he’s loaded with cash that NASA could use to increase salaries and “administrative expenses.” Since he’ll be in zero G, there’ll be no fear that he drops a grenade on his foot in THIS command, at least.
Mission Specialist 1: Katie Couric—she’ll be responsible for the experiments testing the effect of weightlessness on weightlessness.
Diversity Liason: Louis”Calypso Louie” Farrakhan—he’ll guide the shuttle and its crew to rendezvous with the Mother Ship, and serve as the mission’s Religion of Peace(TM) chaplain.
Mission Specialist 2: Michael Moore—will conduct experiments to measure the effects of zero G on cellulite, as well as testing the digestibility of Big Macs when weightless.
Mission Engineer: Al Gore—with his expertise in science, he’s a great choice. Among his responsibilites will be monitoring cabin temperature and CO2 levels—something he does with great accuracy.
Anyway, those are my picks for Moonbat One.
July 8th, 2006 at 8:31 pm
Oh, I forgot:
Communications Specialist: Cindy Sheehan—she has merde for brains, but she knows how to stay “on message”
Mission Safety Specialist: Kate Michelman—in case the mission has to abort
July 9th, 2006 at 9:56 am
Sounds like an All-Star cast…