Prayers for Discovery asked.

The Discovery shuttle is preparing to leave the space station for a re-entry on Monday. As most probably know there were several repairs done on the heat shield while in orbit and there is still unrepaired damage that should not be a problem during re-entry. However, I'm sure that prayers from our theists and best wishes from all would not hurt.This message has been edited by jar, 08-05-2005 05:11 PM

Amen.If something happened, God forbid, it would end the shuttle program and probably eliminate US space travel for many years.This message has been edited by Monk, Fri, 08-05-2005 05:23 PM

I'm worried.

A focused will to good is the best I can do...very focused.

jarI would raise a glass to toast the crew for the effort and send an appreciation for the effort they make on behalf of manned exploration. I am most confident that the location of the thermal blanket being near the cocpit window is a minimal risk in line with other risks inherent in any venture of this complexity.It is not in direct contact with the forces of reentry and is far enough up on the side that it has little chance of being a problem.That said I think I would gladly risk a death upon reentry for a chance to glide in free-fall looking down upon the single most spectacular sight possible.There are worse fates than that I can asure you.So here's to the crew. Andrew Thomas (Ph.D.), Wendy Lawrence (Capt., USN) and Charles Camarda (Ph.D.), Mission commander Eileen Collins (Col., USAF), Pilot James Kelly (Lt. Col., USAF), Mission Specialists Stephen Robinson (Ph.D) and Soichi Noguchi."May you live as long as you want,
And never want as long as you live."

The problem is that the shuttle is too fragile. The least little thing goes wrong, it blows up. The tiles don't work very well.

Be of Good faith -

quote:

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We've assessed this risk to the very best of our engineering knowledge and we believe the vehicle is safe to fly and for re-entry," he said.

​

Paul Hill, lead shuttle flight director, also stressed that Nasa is confident of a safe return for Discovery.

​

"We are in really good shape," he said. "The vehicle is in pristine condition. All the tests are good, we are ready to go. But de-orbit is not a risk free activity. Our big risk now would be the weather."

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This is suppose to happen at breakfast tomorrow for us - I'll break the habit of a lifetime and have a wee dram when they touch down.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping to be awoken early tomorrow morning (~4:46 AM, EST) by the shuttles signature twin sonic booms!

And they're getting old. The shuttles are scheduled for retirement anyway in 2010 after the ISS is completed, that's only 5 years away. That's why I think if another disaster occurs, NASA will retire the fleet ahead of the 2010 deadline.If that happens, then the problem will be the intervening years between retirement of the shuttles and the first launch of the replacement vehicles, the CEV . Other space programs will need to step up and take the lead in serving the ISS.

Although the sci-fi romantic in me hates the idea, it is time to stop wasting money and lives on manned missions: this was nothing more than a re-supply/garbage collection flight--but NASA doesn't want to service the Hubble!I'd trade places right now with any shuttle crew member, though.
At my age, future envy is kicking in with a vengeance--I always thought we'd be further along by now.When we are prepared to make a serious colonization effort, the risks will be worthwhile. For now, robotics/instrument packages are the way to go.

My greatest confidence and hope goes with them. I'm pretty torn on the whole issue of spending money on manned flights and whatnot. I think I'll just refrain from commenting there.

Rescheduled for 7:18 this morning (Central US time).

From watching Young and Crippen as an 11yr old, I still can't help but be awed by that 30yr old beautiful hunk of junk...