(First of all, I'm not sure if this is really in the right place... Since I plan to go on and on, in a rant type style on this... I figured this
would be the best place to post this. If I'm wrong, move it to the right place. )
Typically, i avoid current events like the devil. I don't think what the news stations and what world leaders say, is the truth anyway. However in
my usual strange method, I have stumbled across something I find not only insulting to the general populous but as well to the world (and isn't about
some whiny crying heiress). The Atlantis space shuttle has a "tear" in it's thermal blanket, and all NASA is doing is down playing it to nothing.
They say things like "It's no big deal." and "It's not significant".
What the heck!?!?!?!?!
I have seen pictures of this "tear", and read on several news sites that it's 4 inches by 6 inches. 4x6?? I'm sorry, since when do we give
tears dementions? That, my friend, is a hole... a HOLE!!!! A tear has length but no width... a hole has both. Why are they labeling it a tear? It
only downplays the serious nature of this event. This is real news, and yet they put up a whiny brat instead of talking about the HOLE in the
shuttle.
As they talk about it, they keep saying how "It's not a big deal" or "Insignificant". Ok, I'm no rocket scientist, and I'm not the brightest
crayon in the box... but isn't a thermal blanket, part of the heat shield used to re-enter the atmosphere safely? Don't you think a HOLE in the
HEAT SHIELD should be considered a big deal, and significant? My god, in contact places on the shuttle, temps get up to 2000 degree's C (that's
3632 degree's F for those of you who like F's). However, the location where this HOLE is, which is the rear, doesn't get that hot, temps only
reach 700 degree's C (1292 degree's F). That is still to hot for humans to exist and survive. Yeah, that 700 degrees C is so much cooler, I'm sure
those astronauts are going to be just fine. ::rolls eyes::
I read in a report that they aren't in that bad of shape due to the tile is still attached to the shuttle, and a space walk with some very special
high heat resistant glue, will refasten it like new. So, your telling me they have miracle glue in the glove compartment of the space shuttle just in
case of these kind of emergencies? Has it ever been applied in the vacuum of space, and what do they do if they accidentally glue themselves to the
outside of the shuttle? What happens if they don't end up needing the miracle glue? Do they pull pranks on each other with it? Glue one guy to the
ceiling while he's sleeping, glue another to the toilet? Will this glue be enough to keep another Columbia disaster from happening? On Columbia,
they had lost a tile during re-entry back in 2003, and that is what NASA claims to have caused the explosion. (though the damaged tile on that mission
was in the 2000 degree C area, not the 700 degree C area).
Those poor, poor people, right now sitting on the space station with their miracle glue. I'm sure they of all realize the seriousness of this
situation. I wouldn't at all be surprised if they decide that it's just safer to sit on the station and wait for the next shuttle to come (granted
nothing bad happens that time either). A woman who has been on that station since Dec, Sunita Williams has got to be upset about this. They came to
replace her with Clayton Anderson and she has to try to go back to the earth in a space shuttle whose hole was repaired by a dangling tile and miracle
glue. If that were me, I would be saying things like, "You know... I think I might just catch the next shuttle, but thanks anyway." The only one
who is theoretically sitting pretty is Clayton Anderson, who is supposed to be up there for the next 4 months. I'm sure he's getting a lot of flack
for that by the others. I wonder if NASA is telling them that this "Isn't a big deal" or that it's "insignificant".
What really gets me, is that I bet this wasn't considered important enough to even mention on any of the news programs. I bet it was just down at
the bottom of the screen where that news ticker passes with random news that most people probably don't bother reading in the first place. This has
been so downplayed and so ignored, that if this shuttle turns out to be another Columbia, most people will just be in shock that there was ever a
problem.
WHY DO THEY TREAT US LIKE LITTLE STUPID KIDS!!!!!!