Not good. So I assume that if the damage is bad, they're stuck up there? At least until something can get figured out. Has the crew has started using the camera to check for the damage?

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“Sometimes I think we're alone. Sometimes I think we're not. In either case, the thought is staggering.” - Buckminster Fuller

"A man talking sense to himself is no madder than a man talking nonsense not to himself." - Guildenstern, “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead”

What I've heard is that there is no apparent threat to the shuttle being able to successfully return to earth, but that they are suspending future flights until they can solve the problem of materials flaking off and possibly damaging the shuttle.

It is sad that such a marvelous machine has so many problems.

I wonder what will become the next generation of space vehicle?

PF, you're right. So few people have ever been able to go into space ... it's really a wonder that interest has waned ... especially by the media. I noticed when I clicked on looking at the video clip (Thanks, Cheyanne) ... it was prefaced with a WalMart ad.

fredchabotnick,

The announcement to ground the fleet was made after the visual. Keep in mind that NASA has not said that Discovery is unable to return safely. That being said, should a puncture be found in the shuttle’s thermal protection system after launch, there are only two alternatives. One is to wait for rescue in the space station; the other is to use an experimental kit of ablative filler, which is designed only for smaller punctures.

One difficulty with holing up in the ISS is that the rescue vehicle, Atlantis, is the same design as Discovery. Let us hope that there is no significant damage to Discovery, and that she’s cleared to make her scheduled return.

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Eudaimonia

Keep in mind the reason why they were able to see the potential damage was that this time NASA had more cameras in place than a Speilberg production...after the Columbia disaster, they are much more safety conscious & less willing to let "go fever" mentality drive the program...
BTW, did everyone see the shuttle backflip as they approached the space station? I know it was done so they could scope out the underside of the craft for damage, but it was still very cool to see this first-ever acrobatic move being made by a vehicle the size of a building...

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Plug me into somethin'

If the theory does not conform to the facts, then the facts must be discarded.

No good deed ever goes unpunished

Never argue with an idiot. He'll drag you down to his level, & beat you with experience.

scotzoidman,

I couldn't agree with you more about Discovery's 360. Those vehicles are BIG!

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Eudaimonia

Astronaut Stephen Robinson is making a monumental journey in repairing the belly of the shuttle today. In describing the details of what he's doing, it is truly remarkable that he'll be doing it in space...while in a space suit...attached to a robotic arm.

In true astronaut fashion, not unlike Neil Armstrong and his "One small step" words, Robinson had his own quote.


"The most important thing to keep your eye on is the top of my helmet."





He did NOT just say that!

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Though I am different from you,
We were born involved in one another.

For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.

Complete surrender should not just come at moments in which one faces overwhelming odds, but in the calm when it seems one is personally in complete control of one's life.

I just saw a pic of it and it seems sooooooooo amazing.

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The practice of putting women on pedestals began to die out when it was discovered that they could give orders better from there.~ Betty Grable

If I wanted your opinion, I'd remove the duct tape and ask you for it.~ Me
<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>
One man's dream is another man's nightmare~~~~> §¤ Lilith ¤§
~>My Scribbles<~
==>Gone Shopping<== ~Just a Quickie~ *~A Celebration Vacation~* ~Surprises~ Sleeping With the Window Open
What Did You Do Today? Self Defense Class ~Short Sweet Snippets~ § Summer Spin § Story Challenge Submission Pajamas

TOUCH DOWN!!

I continue to be exalted seeing a feat of un-comprehendible complexity and precision take place. When discussion of value happens, it can only occur with considerations of it’s positives against wanting to rectify negatives, usually of our own creation. The gain of knowledge and ability will perhaps someday become equal to our primal instincts and a new specie will go forward.

:jump: CONGRATULATIONS TO :jump:

Discovery

NASA

Human Race

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Well said and well done, PF. You definitely said what's in my heart. Those are very brave people who have done a very brave deed and did it extremely well. God bless them all those willing to take risks for a better humanity!!

Yes indeed! Good to see the successful completion. Now all that remains is to get the falling debris issue resolved.

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Eudaimonia

even with all the assurances, i still let out a huge breath after touch down.

welcome home discovery crew.

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Trees give peace to the souls of men * Nora Waln

The forest would be very quiet if no other birds sang than those who sing the best * Henry van Dyke

some fairly sordid tales, rambles, and anecdotes
Hypothetically Speaking * Something More * Cammy Interrupted * An Experimental Vacation * Masked * so..damn..hot * Thank You * My toy, his idea * no.19 Maple Lane * I Have A Surprise For You * Yesterday * In a Quiet Kitchen * help me decide * untitled prose * more untitled prose

I just saw they made it! I'm sooo relieved.

__________________

The practice of putting women on pedestals began to die out when it was discovered that they could give orders better from there.~ Betty Grable

If I wanted your opinion, I'd remove the duct tape and ask you for it.~ Me
<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>
One man's dream is another man's nightmare~~~~> §¤ Lilith ¤§
~>My Scribbles<~
==>Gone Shopping<== ~Just a Quickie~ *~A Celebration Vacation~* ~Surprises~ Sleeping With the Window Open
What Did You Do Today? Self Defense Class ~Short Sweet Snippets~ § Summer Spin § Story Challenge Submission Pajamas

NASA’s next Mars probe, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), is scheduled for launch on Wednesday morning. An Atlas V rocket carrying the spacecraft should take off from Cape Canaveral on Wednesday just before 8:00 Eastern Time. It will arrive at Mars this coming March.

Once in orbit, the MRO will photograph the planet for suitable landing sites on future missions, and will investigate the history of water with its cameras, spectrometer, radar, and an instrument called the Mars Climate Sounder that will observe the temperature, humidity, and dust content of the Martian atmosphere.

One interesting mission feature that could never have happened in the “bad old days” is that the Atlas first stage uses a engine supplied by Russia. Whoda ever thunk it? My, my, my - how times have changed!

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Eudaimonia

Yep. Gotta give them credit though, the Russians do space rockets well. Here's hoping that we can continue shooting them together.

__________________
“Sometimes I think we're alone. Sometimes I think we're not. In either case, the thought is staggering.” - Buckminster Fuller

"A man talking sense to himself is no madder than a man talking nonsense not to himself." - Guildenstern, “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead”

OMG...I was shittin me fuckin trouser's while waiting for re-entry and landing! WHEW! They made it!

I get freaked out when the shuttle[s] go up...and especially when they come back down!!!

*goose bumps alllllllllllll over my body*

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Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they are open.

~Thomas Dewar~