Anyone else getting the feeling that the Space Shuttle

[EC]

is a deversion tactic? I really do not feel good about this...I'm afraid it will end in tradgedy, just so Bush can do one of his "hero" momemts.

[Last Lemming]

1. Just getting ready for

Star Wars

[johnnie]

2. No

I don't feel that way.

[JHB]

3. No.

n/t

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

4. If they feel they can't come back safely they are going to stay

on the space station until they can be retrieved by another shuttle. They also have tile repair kits on board and can try to repair the missing tile while docked at the station. I think they'll be fine.

[Coexist]

5. I don't see NASA scientists selling out their own like that

not at all.

[progressivebydesign]

26. Then why did they pretty much force this mission?

I mean, there were far too many problems for them to insist on sending it up this week. And now, much to the fear of everyone paying attention, the shuttle experience falling debris again, and now there is the fear that we'll face the same tragedy again. It should have been scrubbed completely until everything was worked out.

[Coexist]

28. what "far too many problems?"

I know that they had to finish their work on the space station or their funding would be cut off. But there were no problems at the launch.

[Autumn Colors]

6. Well....

I didn't want to be the one to post it ... but yeah, I've been thinking along those lines as well.

Then again, I've never believed that Paul Wellstone's plane crash was really an accident.

Yes, I'll take one tin foil hat, please.

[GreenPartyVoter]

14. Welcome to DU

[rocktivity]

36. One tinfoil hat coming up!

:tinfoilhat:
And welcome to DU, Autumn Colors!

:headbang:
rocknation

[theHandpuppet]

7. No.

But I think its time the shuttles were retired.

[GreenPartyVoter]

15. Agreed. I should think they could be improved upon by now

[madinmaryland]

16. I think they are all destined to be retired by 2010. n/t

[Modem Butterfly]

8. I like Reynolds. What kind do you prefer?

:tinfoilhat:

[prolesunited]

9. Earth to EC

Please adjust your tinfoil. Not everything is a Bush/Rovian plot.

[SteppingRazor]

10. Of course not.

Two shuttle explosions in a row would hardly allow Bush to come off as a tragic hero. It would make him look like an ass. Number one -- I don't think he'd blow up a shuttle to make himself look good in any case. And number two -- even if he would, this wouldn't make him look good.

[Autumn Colors]

13. I don't think

it would be done to make Bush look good ... more like get the headlines away from the leak story.

[SteppingRazor]

22. If that's all it is...

There's a million things that could be done to gget the story off the headlines without blowing up billions of dollars of government property and killing a bunch of people -- you could, for example, announce a Supreme Court nomination. Or launch a space shuttle.

[Horse with no Name]

11. I think that is one area that is not corruptable

Having known several astronauts and their families when I lived in Houston--I can honestly say that I don't think they would sacrifice their people for Jesus Christ himself...and certainly not for this POS in the WH.

[jsamuel]

12. NO

and I usually give every hat a good try

:tinfoilhat:

[converted_democrat]

17. I do. The local news last night said that tiles were damaged again.

That's what brought the last one down.

BTW, though, I don't think it was on purpose, or planned.

[LisaL]

38. This time it was a much smaller damage.

The shuttle should be fine.

[watercolors]

18. NO,Please do not think that!

Space program very important to us. We are so impressed with our new Space Director. Husband spent 26 yrs in program, very proud to be a part of history. Our son is second generation at the Cape now. This 2 yr down time has hurt us enough. Wish us only LUCK!

[HereSince1628]

19. Nope.

Any disaster could divert attention.

W's War against Wilson has been brewing for years and it didn't go away. The story will remain alive as long as it is fed a new gem of evidence at least once a week.

The long drought is likely to be August when most of the Beltway Boys are out of the news. Hopefully it won't go dormant.

[Sparkman]

20. The technology is so advanced, it takes huge $$ ...

just to make 90% functionality, unlike consumer devices that have a low 3-7% reject rate. And if one O-ring fails, out of say 10 o-rings, disaster! Its a onesy twosy industry, meaning the quality assurance advantages of mass production don't map onto the space program devices. So failure is INEVITABLE, like the Harrier Jet crash stats.
In fact, throwing infinite funding at the space shuttle program is the only reason that the rate of failure isn't sky rocketing.
Pray for the astronauts, re-entry is the bitch. All the mission is a bitch. One failure on one suit, on the wrong seal, one non-redundant system...
Your cynicism is refreshing, however. And the BushCo propagandists would love another disaster in any sector, to divert our attention away from this hellish war or the plundering of our way of life. Persevere Friend!

[foreigncorrespondent]

21. I don't think so!

I watched the launch and saw some debris fall off. I have listened to reports about it, and understand their will be a rescue mission if they can't get them back using Discovery.

If Bush* is stupid enough to try something like what you suggest, then that will finish him. There happens to be a lot of people who do support NASA. Love what they have achieved over the years. Bush* was the stupid ass who took funding away from NASA. If a second shuttle was to break up like Columbia, then Bush* and idiots wouldn't be able to spin it enough to get the heat off them.

[progressivebydesign]

23. I feel that they forced it up regardless of the danger..

.. because the Admin. desperately wants a feel-good experience to counteract the horrors and mistakes of Iraq, the nastiness and impending criminal interest in Turdblossom, and divert people from asking too many questions about Roberts. Also, this pushes Bush's insane idea about Mars trips (when we can't even fucking fund our schools and public services).

[RSchewe]

24. These are those posts that always make it to right wing sites bashing Dems

Forget tinfoil, this will need some of that top secret metal from Area-51. I wouldn't be surprised if right wingers were the ones making these ridiculous posts.

[jim3775]

25. No, the launch windows are determined months if not years in advance

NASA is the most transparent agency in the US govt, everything they do can be accessed publicly in one way or another. The shuttle missions are planned down to the second many months in advance and the shuttle launch is determined by orbital mechanics, lighting and weather conditions and vehicle readiness, not the political matter of the moment.

[progressivebydesign]

27. I don't think it is pushed for the tragedy angle, but for the success.

NASA is a government entity after all, and has become increasingly political (sadly) since Bush took over. I am adamantly opposed to the idea that this is being pushed so that it will explode and Bush will gain something... BUT.. I do feel that the launch should have been totally rescheduled after all the problems they've encountered this week. Bush and friends, and NASA desperately want a feel-good success right now, especially with Bush's insane talk of sending us to Mars to divert the problems here on Earth that he's experiencing.

It's not the tragedy angle that I agree with here, it's the force it up at all costs for a success angle that I'm seeing.

Do any of you remember when Bush's approval ratings where in basement (before right now of course) and he got all Star Spangled Banner about sending America to Mars????? It's kind of the same thing here... Every time his approval ratings dump, he latches on to the only feel-good agency in his power: NASA.

[Enraged_Ape]

29. I don't get that feeling. Whatever the problem is, they'll fix it.

I think the press is making a bigger deal out of this than it really is, just because this kind of problem is now on everyone's mind. The Shuttle crew has the equipment to repair this kind of thing, and even if they can't, they can hang out at the ISS until another Shuttle can come and retrieve them.

Don't let the media tell you how to think or feel.

[musette_sf]

30. oh no

they're gonna have to put ANOTHER space shuttle on the Texas license plates. It's junked up enough as it is, they added the shuttle after Columbia, I guess. (I'm back on business... haven't been back in 7 years, and when I left, there was no SS on the license plate.)

[Johonny]

31. Deversion

Yes of course it is. The whole manned space mission program has been a deversion tactic. Why suddenly would it not be?

[Jane Austin]

32. Schoolmarm, here.

It's diversion, not deversion. Why? Because the word is derived from "divert": to turn from one course or use to another.

Lesson over. :)

[Name removed]

40. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Jane Austin]

41. Ha Ha!

I see I left you speechless.

[Pithlet]

33. I'm afraid it will end in tragedy

because shuttle launches are so dangerous, and the fact that pieces were seen falling off at launch. But I don't think it is a purposeful attempt at diversion.

[BrotherBuzz]

34. I think they took a roll of 10,000 MPH duck tape with them...

No problem.

[KharmaTrain]

35. Cheap Easy TV...

Jon Stewart nailed it last night when he showed Miles Mindbender with that huge rocket shooting out of his pocket. LOL. For the most part, space coverage is a carrot, good or bad, for cable news. It's kinda like covering Nascar...they're there for the fun and whiz bang of the race, but if there's a crash, well, that's "news".

I grew up watching the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo launches and still look back fondly on those exciting days. I still feel that way about NASA no matter how off track and politicized this agency has gotten over the years.

Here's wishing the crew a safe and event-free voyage. This is a diversion I don't mind watching.

[Horse with no Name]

37. I remember when I was a kid

at all the gas stations--used to be full service back then-- had the space toys. The Apollo rockets, etc. Free with a fill up.
I remember when Apollo 11 launched. My Aunt and Uncle poured a slab and installed a flag pole...we all stood around while they hoisted the flag, ate BBQ, and played games.
I still think astronauts are pioneers and are real-life heroes and was excited when the first shuttle took off. I still remember what I was doing when we lost the Challenger and then when we lost the Columbia.
As much money as our government wastes on all of its pet projects...I don't mind them wasting the money on this.:shrug:

[Terran]

39. Yeah, and so is the hot weather. n/t