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Hardware
Clan Ghost Bear
Star Colonel
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 605
Location: United States
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 Posted: 01-Feb-2003 09:51 Post subject: Columbia, damnit! |
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It looks like we've lost another shuttle, damnit. I am very depressed. 17 years and 4 days since Challenger. 37 years and 5 days since Apollo 1.
This time another shuttle must go up, and soon. There are astronauts still on the international space station so we can't afford a one year stop like we did after Challenger.
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The more I get to know people the more I like my dog.
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Raven!
Clan Snow Raven
Galaxy Commander
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 1326
Location: United States
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| Posted: 01-Feb-2003 10:01 Post subject: RE: Columbia, damnit! |
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I know! This is terrible. I'm watching right now, as the tv is showing the reentry trail. It looks like it must have tipped a little on reentry and exposed the nonprotected hull to the heat.
Ever since I was young though I always loved the space program, and this is totally not good.
Raven, who hopes the families of the astronaughts are well taken care of.
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Ruger
Lyran Alliance
Hauptmann General
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 2039
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| Posted: 01-Feb-2003 10:20 Post subject: RE: Columbia, damnit! |
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I still remember EXACTLY what I was doing when I heard that the Challenger had exploded...
Dammit all...if we find out that terrorists were responsible...the world will burn...
I'm not really looking forward to the next few months anymore...
Ruger
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Ruger
Lyran Alliance
Hauptmann General
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 2039
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| Posted: 01-Feb-2003 10:37 Post subject: RE: Columbia, damnit! |
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Now that I've learned more, I find I spoke hastily and with paranoia and I apologize for it...
But dammit...to see this kind of thing happen twice in less than 20 years...
And listening to calls from people that still take the time to condemn the US for what's happening in Iraq and Afghanistan while also attempting to say they are sorry this happened...that just irks me...
Ruger
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Ruger
Lyran Alliance
Hauptmann General
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 2039
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| Posted: 01-Feb-2003 11:36 Post subject: RE: Columbia, damnit! |
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A reminder, though I'm sure you've all heard it already, to those in Oklahoma, Texas and Loiusianna....DO NOT touch any debris you may find...it is poisonous...contact the authorities, let them get cleanup crews out there...
Ruger
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Vampire
Free Worlds League
Lieutenant Colonel
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 912
Location: Spain
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| Posted: 01-Feb-2003 11:52 Post subject: RE: Columbia, damnit! |
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It's a sad sign of our times that the very first thing we think is that it has been a terrorist act.
I'm not really surprised, the Columbia was the oldest in the fleet, by the look of it there was a sudden system failure and it failed on reentry, just another fluke like with the Challenger.
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Kyu Kage
ComStar
Captain
Joined: 16-Sep-2002 00:00
Posts: 503
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| Posted: 01-Feb-2003 11:59 Post subject: RE: Columbia, damnit! |
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The news came through about two hours ago here.
Two of the free-to-air channels have gone to full coverage, the rest are doing updates through news breaks and scrollers during programming.
This is the last thing the Global Space Program needs!
The proverbial stuff is gonna hit the fan.
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Loyalty above all else except honour!
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Mordel
Mordel.Net
Administrator
Joined: 03-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 6061
Location: United States
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| Posted: 01-Feb-2003 13:20 Post subject: RE: Columbia, damnit! |
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As saddened as I am by this, they are events and tragedies that we know will happen. We (the human race) feel the need to explore space, and doing so is a very risky adventure. Yet I can assure you that it will not stop us from continuing our mission to explore. Let's grieve, pray and whatever else we need to do, and then let's get that next shuttle up there as soon as possible!
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chihawk
Clan Blood Spirit
Master Bartender
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 8072
Location: United States
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| Posted: 01-Feb-2003 13:27 Post subject: RE: Columbia, damnit! |
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I agree.
...so that these dead shall not have died in vain. Abe Lincoln, Gettysburgh Address
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Ares
Clan Jade Falcon
Star Colonel
Joined: 20-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 737
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| Posted: 01-Feb-2003 17:08 Post subject: RE: Columbia, damnit! |
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I'm watching it all too, and reading through Regan's address regarding Challenger (something I wasn't even born for until about 7 years after) while I was on the fark.com message board about it actually brought me to tears, something I can't remember the last time I've done.
It couldn't of been intentional though, since no weapon has near the capabilities to shoot something going Mach 18 at 200,000 feet, and sabtoage is near-impossible since Nasa techs probaly go over every shuttle before it's lauched 10 times with a pair of tweezers.
Godspeed, Columbia
[ This Message was edited by: Ares on 2003-02-01 17:09 ]
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Vagabond
Mercenary
Mr. Referee
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 5724
Location: United States
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| Posted: 01-Feb-2003 17:52 Post subject: RE: Columbia, damnit! |
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"lets just ask god to take care of our friends, and may they rest in peace." Harry Stamper, Armageddon
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one must work hard to cultivate the mind and body. and one must always cultivate the mind.
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Horhiro
Draconis Combine
Samurai
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 1625
Location: United States
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| Posted: 01-Feb-2003 17:56 Post subject: RE: Columbia, damnit! |
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Seyla. 
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Warmonger
Clan Blood Spirit
Star Commander
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 84
Location: United States
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| Posted: 01-Feb-2003 19:36 Post subject: RE: Columbia, damnit! |
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Quote:
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On 2003-02-01 10:37, Ruger wrote:
But dammit...to see this kind of thing happen twice in less than 20 years...
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I am going to seem like such an ass for saying this, but I can't let it pass.
When you are dealing with a business that essentially involves strapping people to the top of a slow-burn bomb and then getting them home by letting them drop from however many miles up they are, two fatal accidents in seventeen years is not that bad a record in my book. Don't get me wrong, this was indeed a terrible accident, and I wish it hadn't happened, but you have to realize that stuff like this is going to happen.
Right, that's my spiel. Fire away.
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AlexxKnight
Federated Suns
Colonel
Joined: 11-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 787
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| Posted: 01-Feb-2003 20:17 Post subject: RE: Columbia, damnit! |
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I have to agree Warmonger makes a decent point. THat is not a terrible track record, all things considered, especially if it is a sudden systems failure on one of the oldest shuttles. It is dangerous work. But it must be done, it is in our (man-kind's) blood to attempt the near impossible. I also want to echo everyone else's sentiments. Though a small part of my brian wants to screams terrorists, since there was an Israeli on board. But I doubt it is even remotely possible. THe thing that irks me the most about it, is the way the people on the radio were talking about it. When I first heard the news, I almost missed it. They said it so casually. THat is whats scares me and pisses me off to no end.
God Bless and God's Speed to the crew of Columbia. Best wishes to their families.
As for putting up another shuttle soon, I must say it is probably the best thing we can do right now. Of all the nations in the world, I think the people of the United States aare the most interested/fascinated in/with the space program. To let this tragedy set the Space program back would be a real mistake. Instead it should be a signal to press on and move forward with the space program, both Globally and nationally.
God's Speed Columbia. You are true Heroes.
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Command Company, Crimson Janissaries
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The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. . . And you
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Kraken
Federated Suns
Marshal
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 2755
Location: United States
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| Posted: 01-Feb-2003 22:08 Post subject: RE: Columbia, damnit! |
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To answer your question, on the news a few minutes ago they announced that an unmanned Russian supply flight will go on as scheduled tomorrow to re-supply the workers at the International Space Station.
As near as can be figured, this is what may have happened: It has been confirmed that a part of the foam jacket surrounding the fuel was shed during assent; this was ruled routine as apparently it's happened before. It is theorized that the foam damaged a part of the left wing. The theory is also that somehow, the left wing took abnormal stress during re-entry.
What gets me is that Dallas is only about 2.5 hours from where myself and Ronin live. The real pucker factor though is how we first heard it. We were so busy getting ready to go to the tourny today (the nearest FanPro rep is 1.5 hours away in Austin; at 8 AM we were just getting ready) that I didn't get to see the news, something unusual for me. About 10 or so we were en route when the tape in Ronin's car's player stopped. We popped it to the radio so we could have some noise while we decided on the next tape; the first thing we heard was the official announcement. We were listening right until we got to our destination.
This is indeed a sad moment the world over. 7 shining stars gone.
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