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Columbia astronauts weren't told of malfunction
Yitzhak Benhorin
Published: 01.02.13, 09:17
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12 Talkbacks for this article
1. NASA did the right thing
Zionist forver   (02.01.13)
If they had got to a position where there was no way to save them then better not to tell them. Better they spend their final minutes of life knowing they will soon be dead and instead let them think of the things they are looks forward to once they have landed. If there was even a tiny possibility they could have been saved then NASA did the wrong thing but if there was no chance of survival then better not to tell them.
2. Tough Call
Joseph ,   Australia   (02.01.13)
But I would rather know and prepare to meet my maker!
3. Daily risks
Dr D ,   Jerusalem   (02.01.13)
I think of Ramon every time I board a flight. The captain welcome words and his wishes for a pleasant flight. They all say relax and enjoy the flight while probably praying that the mechanics did their job and the birds will choose a different path..........
4. unbelievable
Greg ,   Tel Aviv   (02.01.13)
Could not they have sent recuparation modules ? or send food while waiting for the rescue ?
5. They were in an orbit at 16,000 miles an hour
Steven Wilson ,   Anchorage, Alaska   (02.01.13)
....but couldn't even make an attempt to divert the orbit to the space station? No oxygen could have been sent up on another rocket system, in the same orbit and transferred by the crew into the shuttle to resupply the ship with oxygen, extra fuel and food....as they at least tried to change the orbit to get to the space station? Yet these same mathematical guru's can land an unmanned ship on mars??? No one was smart enough to replumb the systems to take on the extra fuel and oxygen? Sounds like lack of trying and the expense of trying to me.
6. We could have prayed to HaShem!
elan ,   Netanya, Israel   (02.01.13)
7. Not the right Call
Bill Stein ,   USA   (02.01.13)
if they new they could have gone to the space station to wait while emergency repair kit of some type was sent or a rescue shuttle. if NASA had that attitude in 1970 Apollo 13 would never survived.
8. What was the "Plan B"?
Shimon ,   Cincinnati, USA   (02.01.13)
I still think of Ilan Ramon at times. Again I extend my condolences to his family. Clearly, the chances something could go catastrophically wrong exist for any launch. What I don't succeed in understanding is why there wasn't a specially modified rescue shuttle? I understand not every situation is salvageable, but this would have been one that would have been. What was the urgency in this launch which precluded such a plan or arrangement?
9. Could they have been rescued
Steve MacLeod ,   Barrie, On   (02.01.13)
It seems that NASA did not try. It seems to me the Russians were supplying MIR by automated Robotic supply missions,They can't change an orbit once they have established one? This was definitely not your Father's NASA
10. Future space vehicles should have ejector seats
Zionist forever   (02.01.13)
Obviously if your in orbit an ejector seat won't help but a situation like Columbia an ejector seat MIGHT have saved them. When future manned space vehicles are designed things like that should be taken not consideration.
11. Prayers
Ron ,   Lawrence, Kansas,   (02.01.13)
I have no doubt that there was plenty of praying done by those that knew!
12. Columbia astronauts....
Toledano Jean-Pierre ,   Israel   (02.02.13)
I can understand the option not to tell anything to the crew. But, why, NASA didn't prepare always another reserve shuttle - ok, without the fuel, but already erected and tested before -, after sending a mission into space. By a malfunction of the launched one they could send the reserve in 2 days as rescue shuttle. Alas, this are talks and thoughts afterwards. But astronauts know and knew the risks of their mission. It's still an adventure and they are adventurers and our heroes.
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