Shuttle Columbia STS-107 Message Board

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Pastimes : Shuttle Columbia STS-107

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To: Yogizuna who wrote (610)	7/8/2003 3:04:48 PM
From: S. maltophilia	Read Replies (1) of 627

I am indeed convinced that a piece of foam caused the damage. There is nothing else that could have done it, and it's fairly obvious from the video of this and previous launches that all this stuff falling off the fuel tank was an accident waiting to happen. What I don't understand is why shooting a cannon at a shuttle wing proves anything except that if you have a large enough impact velocity you will have damage. The foam hits the shuttle at a lower speed and damage is still likely to occur, so I'm not sure what the point of the recent tests was, except to provide bureaucratic cover for all concerned. Before we think about Mars, we should establish a space presence. Nothing glamorous, just a boring geosynchronous station and some lunar bases. Then we might more easily go to Mars, not just to plant the flag, say we've done it and retreat to earth, but to learn how to do real spaceflight. I doubt I'll be around to see it, and I doubt any politician who can't see beyond the next election gives a damn, but at some point the human species needs to have a worthwhile ambition. Ever read this? amazon.com

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