Columbia disaster

Bill Martino

Bill Martino

Joined
Mar 5, 1999
Messages
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Woke up this AM to news that the space shuttle Columbia had broken apart over Texas. As an old flight test engineer this sort of news is very unsettling. Men and machine are gone but families and friends remain. Pray for them.

My hope is the men aboard didn't have time to think about what was happening.
 
A bad thing and bad news for all. Pray the for the lost, their families and all who will be affected.
 
be careful, because the fuel that exploded has very hazardous properties. if inhaled, it could stick in your lungs, and destroy the membranes that cover your avoeli sacs, and cause you to suffocate in 48 hours.
 
fuel toxic; even after burn off entering atmosphere?


God Bless the Crew and God Keep Them


munk
 
with all respect; you know this, are in a postion to know? Reason I ask is a friend and I were just discussing this. I thought Nasa issued the warning because they wanted all the peices back. Could be both reasons hey, health and crash investigation?

Why did they launch, or not bring back down before leaving atmosphere, the shuttle after exterior foam peices fell off during lift off?

Thanks,

munk
 
Uncle Bill's rules of flight testing:

1 -- If you know things are not right don't fly.

2 -- If you think things are not right don't fly.

3 -- If you "feel" things are not right don't fly.

4 -- Never take a chance you don't have to take.

5 -- When in the air the ground is your enemy.
 
This is the first I heard of the tragedy and immediately turned on the TV.
I'm at a loss for words and I pray that the people aboard went quickly and with little pain or fear and may the Great Mystery hold them close.
 
My prayers go out to all who lost loved ones.

Many times in my life, I resort to "Prayer of Serenity" to keep my sanity.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change
Courage to change the things I can
And the Wisdom to know the difference.
 
Amen, Uncle Bill.

A friend of mine once told me about his brother, who had been an F4 Phantom pilot during some of the Vietnam War period. One day the brother was flying a training mission within the US. He got a hunch something was wrong. Scanned the panel, everything looked fine, nothing where it shouldn't have been. He still felt uneasy, about something he knew not what, and so he ejected. Five seconds later the plane exploded. Cause never determined.

So even though he didn't know, somehow, he knew!

As for the folks on Columbia this morning, yes, let's hope it was fast and painless.
 
Originally posted by Bill Martino
Uncle Bill's rules of flight testing:

1 -- If you know things are not right don't fly.

2 -- If you think things are not right don't fly.

3 -- If you "feel" things are not right don't fly.

4 -- Never take a chance you don't have to take.

5 -- When in the air the ground is your enemy.
Click to expand...


When I was in the Marines I had to fly, didn't have a choice. These days I keep both feet on the ground.:D
 
My condolences to their families.........
I am in awe how men and women choose to go into space. They definitely are better and braver than myself.

Sam
 
Aren't there people on the space station?

Is there any other way to get up to them?

Last time the shuttles were grounded for quite a while.

Sad and scary deal.
 
This is very sad news. And an immense blow to the families and friends of that crew. I wish them strength and courage.

-Emile
 
I am very sorry to hear the tragic news...my prayers go out to the families of the brave men and women of Columbia.
 
I first saw the title of this thread and smiled thinking that someone had had a momentary lapse and misstated the Challenger Disaster. Unfortunately, it wasn't that simple. Tragedy after tragedy, we are all being tested. Lets keep focused on the future, and hope that eventually some good will come out of all this. We grow from our experiences and we have certainly experienced alot over the last two years.

n2s
 
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