Contact with Columbia Lost!

[Dauphin]

Originally posted by Kull
The lure of space travel captures the imagination and is deeply embedded in the hopes and dreams of millions of people around the world. It is the polar opposite of the curses that divide the people of this planet - tribalism, nationalism, and fanatacisms of every stripe. And maybe that's the fundamental draw of space travel - the belief, however illusory - that someday we can leave this place and all it's problems far behind.

So when we lose these voyagers it strikes us where we hurt the most - in our dreams.

Would you shed a tear when an unmanned multi-billion dollar project explodes on the launch pad? There was no public mourning over the loss of an Ariane launch a few months ago.

It is the fact that people were on board that is by far the most important aspect. And yes, people do die all the time, needlessly. That is the greater tragedy, that they are ignored.

[Ned]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara


What could they have done about it?

Fixed it. Or, just leave it there.

[ColdWizard]

Originally posted by Anun Ik Oba
They are saying that a piece of insulating foam was what had fallen off during Columbia's flight out. It did hit the left wing, which is where the first signs of trouble started by its heat sensors no longer responding.

This could have serious implications for NASA, in that it would be a case of negligence, either intentional or unintentional, because they did know something came off the vehicle during its outbound flight.

they reviewed the video of the launch, and with their various experts determined that the debris incident wasn't a safety concern. other incidents with the foam impacting parts of the orbiter and boosters apparently only caused superficial damage

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Big Crunch


Would you shed a tear when an unmanned multi-billion dollar project explodes on the launch pad? There was no public mourning over the loss of an Ariane launch a few months ago.

It is the fact that people were on board that is by far the most important aspect. And yes, people do die all the time, needlessly. That is the greater tragedy, that they are ignored.

our dreams

Is there a particular reason you are trying to appear obtuse, BC?

[Velociryx]

Good entrance, NYE, and good luck tryin' to get the point across.

-=Vel=-

[Dauphin]

Dreams are shattered everyday, I live in reality.

[Velociryx]

Okay Big C....try this one on for size.

Yep...here in the real world, it's true. Lots of people die every day, and their deaths are largely ignored.

That's very sad.

It's also true that we don't have cameras rolling in every nook and cranny of the world, covering the lives and deaths of those masses whose stories (and deaths) are going untold.

Should we?

That way we can properly mourn each and every tragedy as it happens, yes?

The fact is....these were among our best and brightest minds, pushing back the boundaries through fearless exploration of the unknown.

When they flew, they carried with them the hopes and dreams of millions who awaited their safe return to the earth.

They never made it, and when their lives ended, it was more than "just a death." It was that, and that by itself would have been tragic. But there's more to the story.

Part of the symbol they represented ALSO died. They were living representatives of something larger than any of them individually. Something that millions of people hold dear.

-=Vel=-

[DuncanK]

It's called reverence. Big C may not have any, or he isn't in touch with it.

[Boris Godunov]

Maybe it's time we stopped feeding Big Crunch's ploy for attention and just discuss the tragedy.

[Gatekeeper]

Big Crunch:

You're weird, I'll give you that much.

Gatekeeper

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Big Crunch
Dreams are shattered everyday, I live in reality.

Ahh. You have no dreams of your own, so you attempt to convince others of the superiority of your situation. I see. Carry on.

[Dauphin]

I regret the loss of those lives. I regret the setback to science and the space programme.

I just see greater tragedies out there in the world.

[The Mad Monk]

STS107-S-001 (May 2001) --- This is the insignia for STS-107, which is a multi-discipline microgravity and Earth science research mission with a multitude of international scientific investigations conducted continuously during the planned 16 days on orbit. The central element of the patch is the microgravity symbol, µg, flowing into the rays of the astronaut symbol. The mission inclination is portrayed by the 39 degree angle of the astronaut symbol to the Earth's horizon. The sunrise is representative of the numerous experiments that are the dawn of a new era for continued microgravity research on the International Space Station and beyond. The breadth of science conducted on this mission will have widespread benefits to life on Earth and our continued exploration of space illustrated by the Earth and stars. The constellation Columba (the dove) was chosen to symbolize peace on Earth and the Space Shuttle Columbia. The seven stars also represent the mission crew members and honor the original astronauts who paved the way to make research in space possible. The Israeli flag is adjacent to the name of the payload specialist who is the first person from that country to fly on the Space Shuttle. The NASA insignia design for Shuttle flights is reserved for use by the astronauts and for other official use as the NASA Administrator may authorize. Public availability has been approved only in the form of illustrations by the various news media. When and if there is any change in this policy, which is not anticipated, it will be publicly announced.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Big Crunch
I just see greater tragedies out there in the world.

OK. So people are to run these things by you first to get the measurement of where an event fits on the BC tragedy scale, then they can commence mourning properly. A little full of ourselves today, yes?

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by Big Crunch


I regret the loss of those lives. I regret the setback to science and the space programme.

I just see greater tragedies out there in the world.

But this thread is about this specific tragedy. That was its purpose. To come in here and kvetch about it is either thoughtlessness or attention-seeking, and I'd wager a bit of both are involved. If you don't deem it worthy of your interest, go somewhere else and leave those who do care about it alone.