• wombat said on Aug 15, 2007....

  I think they know what is going on, more than we do.  Nuf said. I just wish I knew, also.

• silverwhisper said on Aug 15, 2007....

  actually, if it's the tiles i think it is, they're absolutely crucial. when any object enters the earth's atmosphere from space, it meets resistance. this resistance is in the form of friction, and as we all know, friction yields heat.
  
  well, the heat from re-entry is pretty darned serious and the only substance that we know of that can withstand that heat while being light enough for something like the space shuttle (hardly a gossamer filament borne aloft on a zephyr itself) apparently are these tiles.
  
  this is a pretty dangerous situation: the tiles form a heat shield to prevent the shuttle from burning into a cinder under the rigors of re-entry.
  
  ed

• quietone said on Aug 15, 2007....

  Yes, I get a bit anxious myself when I read of these things.  I guess cause when it goes bad, it goes really bad.  The memory triggers those awful picures that were cast upon every tv screen not so long ago, with another teacher.  I don't understand it myself. 

• CreativeWoman said on Aug 15, 2007....

  wombat,
  I wonder sometimes.  It seems to be such a dangerous situation.
  
  Ed,
  That is exactly why I worry.  These astronauts don't know if they will live or die upon re-entry.  Certainly they know the risk before take off.  I just think NASA has seen this is a recurring issue of losing tiles at launching and I wonder why they don't do more problem solving before the next missions.  That is why I wonder if it is more of a media issue sometimes.
  
  quietone,
  That was truly awful.  Let's hope it doesn't happen again.
  
  CW
  
  

• silverwhisper said on Aug 15, 2007....

  i dunno, CW: i'm sure everyone at NASA is keenly aware of the stakes, you know?
  
  ed

• CreativeWoman said on Aug 15, 2007....

  Ed,
  I know.  That is why I wonder why it keeps happening.  Maybe I am being too cynical.  Maybe it is a part of astronaut training to repair such things.  It scares me so much that I know I won't watch the re-entry.  I was watching when the other two tragedies happened.  I won't watch this one.
  
  CW
  

• quietone said on Aug 15, 2007....

  No offense, but I think NASA is aware of a lot of things we could not even understand, but seem to overlook because its too late to turn back now..as the song says.  I think they play a pretty good game of "cover up".  It scares me too.  But, I guess that is what they call progress.  I guess it doesn't matter how high the stakes are any more.  And sometimes good things just go bad.  But I will remain postive about  this one.

• CreativeWoman said on Aug 15, 2007....

  quietone,
  You may be right.
  
  CW
  

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