[The Godfather]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/3828343.html

Why does my stomach tie itself in a knot when I learn this?

Seriously, I think that the Shuttle should only do unmanned flights, for cargo, back and forth without risking human life.

They want to shuttle astronauts? Go Russia.

[olePigeon]

If I had the money I'd pay to go. Even if it blew up on the way up or down, I'dve been in a space shuttle.

[Gator Lager]

Originally Posted by The Godfather

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/3828343.html

Why does my stomach tie itself in a knot when I learn this?

Seriously, I think that the Shuttle should only do unmanned flights, for cargo, back and forth without risking human life.

They want to shuttle astronauts? Go Russia.

ugh, yes it's dangerous flying the shuttles. like I've mentioned before, I work on them and I WOULD FLY in any of them in a heart beat. the doom and gloom people are the same that want a perfect 100% ain't no way in hell your gonna get hurt flying space ship. well folks that type of space travel is not possible at this time. there are risks. these doom and gloom people piss me off.

the russians have lost cosmonauts on launch and landing. big dumb rockets are just as dangerous as shuttles. so until we get something along the lines of a Millennium Falcon or the like, well keep flying dangerous model T space shuttles.

the shuttle replacement is "back to the past to the future big dumb rockets"
I was hoping for a ufo from area 51 or something

we just celebrated the 25th year of flying space shuttles. and hopefully we'll be back to flying shuttle in july.

[Gator Lager]

Originally Posted by olePigeon

If I had the money I'd pay to go. Even if it blew up on the way up or down, I'dve been in a space shuttle.

which one ?

[willed]

You could die every day just crossing the road. May as well go out in style. Considering the ratio of successful flights to fatal ones, I think your odds with the Shuttle are pretty good.

[Millennium]

Your choice. Personally, if I had the opportunity to ride in one, I'd be scared as hell but I'd do it.

[Gator Lager]

I like this John Young quote.

"We need to be smarter," Young said. "We are very ignorant about things that go on in our solar system."

Risk is inevitable, he said.

"Spaceflight exploration is a dangerous business, but I mean, for goodness' sake, we lose 40,000 people a year on the damn U.S. highways, and nobody worries about that. It's like, so what? And they lose seven people in spaceflight and everybody's, well, cancel the space program. They're kidding themselves."

from here http://tinyurl.com/pvgrf

[ghporter]

I'm with Millennium. I'd be scared schmittless, but I'd do it. In a red hot minute. No doubt, hesitation or regret whatsoever. And my wife would back me up on it too. That's the thing about astronauts; they love to fly and knowing the risks, they still volunteer to go.

[Gator Lager]

Originally Posted by ghporter

I'm with Millennium. I'd be scared schmittless, but I'd do it. In a red hot minute. No doubt, hesitation or regret whatsoever. And my wife would back me up on it too. That's the thing about astronauts; they love to fly and knowing the risks, they still volunteer to go.

well my co-workers would strap ya in and wish you a good fun flight

I was on the close out crew. no way to explain it. it's just awesome. had to resign due to injurys. sigh.

[Eriamjh]

Every space shuttle doesn't crash or explode.

I'd go.

Bye!

[JoshuaZ]

People complain about Space being so dangerous. Exploration is always dangerous. Think of the tens of THOUSANDS of people who died on the high seas or exploring new lands? I'd go on the shuttle in a heart beat.

[Cadaver]

I'd be on the shuttle in a New York minute.

[The Godfather]

I'd go too, even without wifely approval. I want to go to space as much as the next guy.

'tis not true that you can't pay me enough to ride the space shuttle. But I do want to point out that the dangers of it are more notorious now than before.

[baw]

I'd go.

[Buckaroo]

You fool. You are at 100x risk with a Russian launch then you are with the Shuttle. Space flight is dangerous no matter what mode of transporation you use.

1000's of people would be willing to pay millions of dollars to have the chance to ride on a Shuttle, even with the risks, except NASA is not a Taxi for the rich.

If I ever went in space, I'd ONLY go if it was on the Shuttle. You have NO idea what the Russians do or what their safety record is.

Originally Posted by The Godfather

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/3828343.html

Why does my stomach tie itself in a knot when I learn this?

Seriously, I think that the Shuttle should only do unmanned flights, for cargo, back and forth without risking human life.

They want to shuttle astronauts? Go Russia.

[FeLiZeCaT]

I'd go shuttle or Soyuz.

My mind is made up for either of them.Hopefully there 's some vodka on Soyuz!

[Ganesha]

Originally Posted by Buckaroo

You fool. You are at 100x risk with a Russian launch then you are with the Shuttle. Space flight is dangerous no matter what mode of transporation you use.

Actually, despite the differences in design the lethal accident rate (in terms of death per capita) is about the same for both launch systems. Soyuz has had many more near misses, which you can either think of as a higher risk system or a more survivable system...

[TheoCryst]

I would in a freaking heartbeat. I mean, if you gotta die, I'd rather die on the f-ing space shuttle than I would in yet another random car accident here on the good ol' terra firma.

[macaddict0001]

I'd go for free.

[DigitalEl]

Those who say the risk is inherent are absolutely right. It is too bad, however, that our culture doesn't value science enough to make it a priority. The shuttle transportation system, for all its advanced bells & whistles, is still basically 60s/70s technology. So what's next? In our society of immediate gratification, seems many (most?) are against the kind of spending necessary to do something great.

It's a shame The Program which took us to the moon has been reduced to groveling before Congress for a fraction of their former budget (adjusted for inflation).

[macaddict0001]

Yeah they get something like a thousandth of their former budget but at least they don't have to sell the shuttles to theme parks like the russians.

[The Godfather]

T minus 6 days
http://www.space.com/missionlaunches...e_oconnor.html

I hope I have time to go to Titusville that day

[production_coordinator]

Name another fleet of spacecraft that have visited space 114 times? Two catastrophic accidents with such a complex system is IMHO rather good. I'm not saying the two accidents weren't tragic, but all things considered... not statistically bad.

The Russian had a very different design philosophy, and had the luxury of working in a top secret environment... where there mistakes were hidden from their citizens.

[UNTeMac]

Media coverage distorts everything. Each accident was tragic but lets not forget those who took the risk to cross the Atlantic and find out about our world. I'd jump at the chance to ride on the shuttle.

We need another Enlightenment age to remind us that the real purpose we serve is to explore and find out about the Universe because then we'll find out more about ourselves.

[production_coordinator]

Originally Posted by UNTeMac

Media coverage distorts everything. Each accident was tragic but lets not forget those who took the risk to cross the Atlantic and find out about our world. I'd jump at the chance to ride on the shuttle.

We need another Enlightenment age to remind us that the real purpose we serve is to explore and find out about the Universe because then we'll find out more about ourselves.

I feel the American media is less about reporting the news, and more about creating exciting news.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by production_coordinator

I feel the American media is less about reporting the news, and more about creating exciting news.

And sadly, I would have to agree.

[DigitalEl]

Originally Posted by production_coordinator

I feel the American media is less about reporting the news, and more about creating exciting news.

People get the media they deserve. If people accept sh!t, it will be piled on their plates in a steaming pile. When people stop watching garbage, you better believe They will stop serving it. It is a business after all.

[darth-vader000]

Me, I'd do it in a heart beat, heck I could step off a curb and get hit by a bus, there are no guarantees in life and if a once in a life time opportunity raised itself like this, you bet ya.

[dreamryche]

Originally Posted by DigitalEl

People get the media they deserve. If people accept sh!t, it will be piled on their plates in a steaming pile. When people stop watching garbage, you better believe They will stop serving it. It is a business after all.

Unfortunately, the masses don't just accept the worthless garbage that fills the mainstream media, they demand and embrace it. I don't see that changing enough in the foreseeable future to force the media to change their direction.

[f1000]

Count me in as another who'd gladly take a trip on the Space Shuttle. We all kick the bucket one way or another, and I can't think of a better way to do it.

[- - e r i k - -]

You couldn't pay me enough to walk outside without a helmet on.

[Gator Lager]

Originally Posted by The Godfather

T minus 6 days
http://www.space.com/missionlaunches...e_oconnor.html

I hope I have time to go to Titusville that day

If you drive I4 from Tampa, come early. You'll have to deal with the rat (disney) traffic. Then you'll have to deal with 528 (beach line). So go easy on the caffeine.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sh...ain/index.html

and for what some other's have said about the press.......... F'em.

We're ready.

[vmarks]

I've taken protein pills and got my helmet on.

commencing countdown, engines on.

Ilan Ramon and Jan Resnick were heroes of mine.

[Big Mac]

I have been troubled over the space shuttle since I did some research on Challenger and found out that there were troubling issues with the technical management of the shuttle's design and maintenance. Apollo rockets were apparently designed with much better QA, testing and documentation of each of the critical parts. It appears to have been a more rigorously managed project. The shuttle is obviously a terrific piece of work, and the rigors of space travel are certainly formidable. But upon reading the articles I read on the Challenger failure, I recognized the fact that a similar tragedy was entirely too possible. That was a few years before Columbia, unfortunately.

[Gator Lager]

Originally Posted by Big Mac

I have been troubled over the space shuttle since I did some research on Challenger and found out that there were troubling issues with the technical management of the shuttle's design and maintenance. Apollo rockets were apparently designed with much better QA, testing and documentation of each of the critical parts. It appears to have been a more rigorously managed project. The shuttle is obviously a terrific piece of work, and the rigors of space travel are certainly formidable. But upon reading the articles I read on the Challenger failure, I recognized the fact that a similar tragedy was entirely too possible. That was a few years before Columbia, unfortunately.

I'm a Q.C. on the Shuttle fleet. Both Challenger and Columbia were brought down by external forces. The S.R.B. design problem for Challenger and the foam for Columbia.

As for the internal components, well that's my area and I can say WE are very diligent in the inspection and testing processes. And yes as humans we miss things from time to time. But that's why we do inspection over and over again. So take what the press writes and reports about us with a grain of salt.

We know what we are doing. But unfortunately some of the higher up folks don't make the correct decisions at times. I'll stop there.

[vmarks]

Originally Posted by Big Mac

I have been troubled over the space shuttle since I did some research on Challenger and found out that there were troubling issues with the technical management of the shuttle's design and maintenance. Apollo rockets were apparently designed with much better QA, testing and documentation of each of the critical parts. It appears to have been a more rigorously managed project. The shuttle is obviously a terrific piece of work, and the rigors of space travel are certainly formidable. But upon reading the articles I read on the Challenger failure, I recognized the fact that a similar tragedy was entirely too possible. That was a few years before Columbia, unfortunately.

I think you're oversimplifying.

The Apollo program was orders of magnitude less complex than the Shuttle program. One was a tin can over a bottle rocket, use once.

The other is a recyclable flying brick designed to be flexible in use. That flexibility requires huge amounts of complexity.

Think about computer code for one moment. Think about the quality control and debugging that has to take place. Then think about the planning involved in attempting to code bug-free from the beginning. Because lives depend upon it.

[Y3a]

EXACTLY GATOR!! The Shuttle is FINE. The external tank is the chink in the armor. A shame you couldn't use more solid fuel engines, but the G-forces would kill the crew.

[osiris]

I'd go in a heartbeat.

[osiris]

Originally Posted by darth-vader000

Me, I'd do it in a heart beat, heck I could step off a curb and get hit by a bus, there are no guarantees in life and if a once in a life time opportunity raised itself like this, you bet ya.

I guess hard times have fallen upon the empire if Darth Vader is willing to ride on the space shuttle.

[driven]

Without a doubt if I had the funds I'd pay to go also. Even if I knew it there was a problem that gave it a low chance of returning. I can think of worse ways to go out than in the fulfillment of a childhood dream.

I can't wait until we can all afford to do Richard Branson's Virgin Atlanta tours to the sky!

[The Godfather]

I am 4 hours away from the site. Is leaving home at 6AM to beat launch-day traffic an excessive effort? (launch is at 3:49PM)

[Gator Lager]

Originally Posted by The Godfather

I am 4 hours away from the site. Is leaving home at 6AM to beat launch-day traffic an excessive effort? (launch is at 3:49PM)

check the weather before you head over here. the afternoon rains have been starting around launch time. I heard today it's going to be a 60% no go for launch. but we'll tank anyway and I'll be on the runway, getting eating by skee'ters. waiting for launch.

bring an umbrella

[The Godfather]

This time I won't go to the east coast. Trying to return at 6PM last Saturday was a nightmare

[Sarc]

Would go in a heartbeat. Can't think of a better way to go, talk about spectacular.

Anyway, I always wondered why the shuttle fleet became dangerous all of a sudden. First you had the Challenger back in 1985. Then, after Columbia problem started appearing like mushrooms. Anyone ?

[driven]

The problems were always there. They just went un-noticed. Fortunately the flight-crew have been pretty lucky.

[Landos Mustache]

Hasn't there been like 100 shuttle launches and only 2 major accidents? That's pretty good.