Just a reminder that going to extremes - space travel in this context - can be deadly.
It would be sadder if NASA hadn't learned their lesson.
Fortunately, they did.
You know, I think its weird that everyone seemed to think that there was a "lesson" to be learned...other than the fact that space flight is dangerous. I have heard the "lesson" thing from several people and I just think its odd.
The reason is, most tend to forget how successiful the space shuttle program has been...and how safe. When the STS-107 mission (Columbia's final flight) launched, it was the 113th shuttle flight. In 113 shuttle misisons there were 2 fatal flights...thats only 2/113 which means there is a 1.77% loss rate. With space flight still being so experimental, I think thats pretty good-and its better than they expected. When the shuttle was originally designed, they figured that each mission would carry a 2% risk. Its true that they have made changes to prevent future problems like this...which needs to be done. But, the foam thing just happened. There had been many foam strikes in the past and the result never indicated that it was unsafe. The Challenger accident is completely different, that was totally NASA's fault and they never should have allowed it to happen-they actually broke their own launch rules back on that day in 1986 and it cost them. I personally feel that Columbia was just a freak event that happened and that they should (and did) take measures to fix the problem. But, when someone says that "NASA learned their lesson" it seems to be like there is blame being cast...which in this case there was no need for. The Columbia accident was nobodies fault, it was simply a series of events that happened all at the exact wrong time...and like I said already; all the evidence they had seen indicated that the foam was safe. It's good that they fixed it, but space flight carries risk and it always will-thats just the nature of it. It's sad to lose 7 astronauts, and we can't forget what they gave their lives for...but in this case, there is no one to blame.
(...and I'm not attacking your comment Bjorn, I know what you ment-that spaceflight is dangerous and that tends to be forgotten with constant success. But, I was just venting about what a lot of people seem to think).
I would also like to point out that the 7 men and women on that flight were a group of the best kind of people. They were willing to take time out of their busy schedules in order to respond to those of us out there who are interested in their work and admire them. So much so, that the crew sent me this in November of 2002...only a couple months before their mission began. It is one of my most prized possessions.
by Splat762 » Thu Feb 01, 2007 6:18 pm 
People Eating Tasty Animals.
