After the failure of the Challenger these many years ago, this doesn't surprise or shock me as much. It is certainly a tragedy as well as a significant setback for the space program, but we have been aware that a shuttle can fail. I've already started seeing some finger pointing about where the blame lies for this event, but it is likely that there are many people and institutions which have contributed to the lapses that allowed this to happen.
I certainly want the space program to succeed and would like to see a higher priority given to that effort. I'd much rather see $100 billion spent on expanding our explorations of space than on bombing civilians in Iraq, but I fear that the destruction of Columbia is more likely to lead to calls for the dismantling of NASA than an infusion of new funds and programs.
Given that the shuttles are about 20 years old and built using similarly old technology, it should be expected that they are starting to show some wear. What other 20 year old equipment would you expect to be in pristine condition after dozens of multi-G blast offs and the extremes of the vacuum of space and the intense temperatures of re-entry? With the incredible advances in electronics and materials in the last couple of decades I think that it would be possible to design new ships today which would have greater cost efficiencies per trip due to lighter and stronger construction materials as well as requiring less energy to run the more capable components and computers on board.
I am in no position to know whether the remaining shuttles are flight worthy. I expect that they will all undergo extensive testing and checking before anyone considers the next trip. The rockets which boost the shuttle should also be reviewed as the early reports I've seen (and I haven't followed this as closely as could be) indicate that the problems may relate to ice (formed on the fuel tank used to store the liquid hydrogen fuel) hitting the shuttle during take off.
In the meantime, I will continue to pray for the families of the astronauts as well as for the space program employees whose lives will be impacted as a result of this disaster.
Posted by JoKeR at February 02, 2003 10:18 PM | TrackBack