Thursday #166 I get no kicks from champagne..

[momoffuzzyfaces]

What amazes me about the shuttle program is that NASA can keep 1960's tech flying this late in the life of the orbiters.

Especially since they had the two disasters!!!

I'm sure I wouldn't have the nerve to go up on one they knew had a problem with the foam stuff, no matter how safe they say it is. After all, it's not the ones in charge who risk being splattered all over the place.

Safe journey shuttle crew!!!

[gini]

The launch was far more emotional than I anticipated.

Godspeed!!!

[Corinna]

Ladys human I heard some thing the other day (well night late night talk radio love it) Maybe with your knowledge. I heard that the foam is now not staying as well becouse the enviromentalists have screamed about freeon in it. so took it out and since then the stuff falls off. any possiblitys it's true? As this is in the dog house love for it to be proven and the families of the lost astronauts to sue the einvro groups ,what a picture that would be.

[Lady's Human]

From Wikipedia:

The focus of the investigation centered on the foam strike from the very beginning. Incidents of debris strikes from ice and foam causing damage during take-off were already well known, and had actually damaged orbiters, most noticeably during STS-45, STS-27, and STS-87 [9]. Tile damage had also been traced to ablative insulating material from the solid rocket motors in the past. The composition of the foam insulation had been changed in 1997 to exclude the use of freon, a chemical that causes ozone depletion; while NASA was exempted from legislation phasing out CFCs, the agency chose to change the foam nonetheless. This led to many statements linking the foam strike to environmental pressures. STS-107 used an older "lightweight tank" where the foam was sprayed on to the larger cylindrical surfaces using the newer no freon foam. However the bipods were manufactured from BX-250 foam which was excluded from the EPA regulations and did use the original freon formula. The composition change did not contribute to the accident.

This is one that is NOT the fault of environmentalists.

[Corinna]

Rats and thanks for the info I knew you'd be the one to ask.

[gini]

I know that it is close to the end of the week and time to close the bar.........but could we leave it open for just a little bit longer?

It is Lady's Other Human's birthday today and I promised her a cake
and a drink of her choice.

Happy Birthday!!

[RedHedd]

Happy Birthday LOH!

I'm glad the shuttle got off safely. Of course I, like everyone else, was concerned about the launch. It felt like NASA and the politicos were pushing for a 4th of July launch, safety be da**ed. I'm glad it went off without a glitch and am praying for a safe return.

Champagne all around - a toast to LOH and the safety of our astronauts.