Reply #118: You recall COMPLETELY WRONG

[Hissyspit]

The video of the foam piece striking the shuttle wing was shown the day of the launch. (See here: http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/space/02/01/shuttle.columbia/) I remember quite CLEARLY watching it the day of the launch, and then hearing NASA officials saying it was not worth a space walk to check on and wondering what the hell they were talking about. Whether it was identified as foam or not the day of the launch is beside the point. It was clearly hitting the wing and was a serious issue. Why do I feel so confident that I was right in my assessment of the situation the day of the launch two years ago and NASA officials were wrong? BECAUSE THE FREAKING SHUTTLE DISINTEGRATED on re-entry.

They repeatedly BEFORE the re-entry resisted implications of the threat posed by the piece seen hitting the wing and then after the re-entry CONTINUED to do it until finally all the evidence showed that THAT was most likely the cause. So no, I am not a time-travel alarmist. I was not being a time-travel alarmist when I complained to my girlfriend as we stood at the World Trade Center buildings on Aug. 11, 2001 that Americans were spoiled and oblivious for electing George W. Bush and that they would try to blow up the towers again, only this time they would not use trucks because it didn't work and more likely they would try missiles or airplanes. No, I didn't save anyone's life, but, silly me, I was thinking someone intelligent was in charge of things.

Also, I did not at all scream OMGTHEYREDOOMED in my original post. I did not say that the foam hit the shuttle this time, as I pointed out in my second post. I was addressing the idea of officials being the be-all end-all of authority especially when we've seen this before: political pressure/concerns and group-think mindset affecting safety issues and public relations pronouncments - the same social phenomenon that destroyed TWO space shuttles.