dumbass wrt Columbia

Andras · Post by **Andras** » 2003-02-14 03:54pm

"If NASA has no immediately ready space vehicle to launch repair parts up to a stranded crew in orbit, then the US military can certainly come to NASA's aid with one or more donated, "converted" Minuteman ICBM's: simply remove the warheads, stuff spare tiles, and "space felt", the required amount of superglue or Max Bond, and launch the damn thing in a parallel orbit to the stranded crew. I mean, if a Minuteman can lob its cargo within 100 yards halfway around the world, methinks it could safely park repair material adacent to a stranded Orbiter. Hey, if our military cannot use one or more rockets in a peaceful fashion to save astronauts, then we taxpayers are the biggest suckers in the world. "

Saw this elsewhere and had to share

jaeger115 · Post by **jaeger115** » 2003-02-14 03:56pm

Reminds me of that dumbass in math class who said that someone could survive in the vacuum of space with lots of thick clothes and a gas mask.

Messon · Post by **Messon** » 2003-02-14 04:37pm

I'd like to know how you would apply a tile to the shuttle in zero-g. The harder you try to push the tile to keep it in place, the faster you would go flying away from the shuttle. Nothing really to hold on to down there, unless you plan on ramming it in place. I guess you could throw it at where you wan't it to stick and hope you hit your target.

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-02-14 06:27pm

RAMMING SPEED!!! ::worf rockets towards the space shuttle and squishes the tile into place:: TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO GLUE!!!

Seriously tho, they could have just launched a russian capsule ahead of time. The gluing issue would be solved with suction cups :p

I doubt it would work tho, considering the tiles need very precise placement, but its better then no tiles, obviously.

Enlightenment · Post by **Enlightenment** » 2003-02-14 06:29pm

kojikun wrote:Seriously tho, they could have just launched a russian capsule ahead of time. The gluing issue would be solved with suction cups :p

Gecko feet, not suction cups.

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2003-02-14 06:53pm

They could put the sticky backing on a tile like a US postal stamp.

It could be the peel off kind so they dont have to lick them in space.

Messon · Post by **Messon** » 2003-02-14 07:05pm

How would you apply the gecko feet? It would be the same thing as with trying to push the tile in. You push it down, it pushes you away. Without anything to push against, save running into it, I don't think you could apply an adhesive, be it the adhesive your using to hold you or the tile in place. I don’t know much about adhesives, though, so I might be being ignorant right now.

Admiral Johnason · Post by **Admiral Johnason** » 2003-02-14 08:20pm

Thay could make the Enterprise space worhty and use it to replace the Columbia. I mean the first test shuttle from the 1970's that never went into orbit.

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2003-02-15 06:36am

Admiral Johnason wrote:Thay could make the Enterprise space worhty and use it to replace the Columbia. I mean the first test shuttle from the 1970's that never went into orbit.

It would probably be cheaper to build a new one.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2003-02-15 07:41am

Well, I just saw on CNN recently, that the problem wasn't the tiles, it was that superheated gas entered the landing gear and that is what did the trick. Nothing they could do.

Enlightenment · Post by **Enlightenment** » 2003-02-15 02:39pm

Gil Hamilton wrote:Well, I just saw on CNN recently, that the problem wasn't the tiles, it was that superheated gas entered the landing gear and that is what did the trick. Nothing they could do.

CNN's got it wrong as usual.

The investigation board concluded that plasma entered the wing structure through a hole, but it has yet to be determined where the hole was in the wing structure.