From: Damien Broderick (thespike@earthlink.net)
Date: Tue Feb 04 2003 - 14:17:58 MST
http://www.locusmag.com/2003/Features/Letters02.html
[...] If we had built — they didn't need developing because NASA Ames had
already developed them, although NASA Houston killed the program — real
space suits, we would also have provided means for using them, including
some shuttle tile material and some super glue, tether lines, and
instructions in repair procedures; but because we have never had decent
suits, NASA preferred not to know about damage on takeoff. Me, I'd like to
know: at least there's a chance to say goodbye. And there's always a chance
that human ingenuity will come up with a miracle, as was done with Apollo
13. Not a high chance, but some of us would prefer to go out trying. Given
the size of the chunk that hit Columbia on takeoff there's a high
probability that inspection would have shown there was no chance of
surviving re-entry. That would leave rescue by Atlantis, a race against
time. Or a decision to go in, knowing there wasn't much chance. Or a search
for something else. But at least they'd know. [etc]
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