Calls to permanently ground Shuttle fleet.

I very much agree with you, and it is a very sad day for the space
community. Seeing John Glenn (not that I always agree with him) and other
former astronauts saying they would go back at a moments notice was
encouraging. One thing I hope comes out of this tragedy is that the unholy
alliance you spoke of is broken, that finally we get away from the dependence
of the shuttle program. My hope is that the government finally encourages
the commercial sector with more than lip service to developing a better
vehicle. I'm not saying the shuttle shouldn't fly again. If it is safe for
it to do so, I'd like to see Atlantis make its next scheduled flight on March
1. That's not going to happen of course. Neither is the rest of what I hope
for I fear. It's just that when such a tragedy takes place, I'd rather honor
the sacrifice with something positive then all the negativism of halting a
grand Endeavor. As was pointed out this morning, far more people were lost
exploring the west (and I'd love to see the figures) than the 17 people lost
in our manned space program. Their loss, while tragic, should embolden us to
fulfill their dreams.

One thought I'd like to close with is that when the late Dale Earnhardt died
almost two years ago, people questioned racing and did the same Monday
morning quarterbacking. One comment that caught my attention is another
driving saying he had told his family that if it ever happened to him that
they should know he died doing what he loved. I think it goes without saying
the seven members of Columbia died doing what they loved, and it is in that
spirit they should be remembered.

DBJ

> A sad day for the space community.
>
> But that doesn't stop the Monday morning quarterbacking which has
> started in earnest.
>
> A very interesting article written for the non-space enthusiast and
> the author calls for grounding the whole shuttle fleet and
> accurately points out the unholy alliance between NASA,
> Congressional leaders and the United Space Alliance and other
> contractors.
>
> http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101030210-
> 418518,00.html
>
> I'll stake out my ground right now; the shuttles won't be grounded
> because the influence of the above interests trumps rational
> decision making processes. Further, the foreign relations blowback
> of not being able to complete the ISS, with the prospect of Russian
> Soyuz flights sending astronauts up there just to tend it and not
> being able to send up anything other than supplies to support the
> tenders. Not to mention the banshee screams of all those who depend
> on the ISS pork barrel and fear its demise.
>
> Also, I don't think anyone in Washington has the backbone to
> confront the political symbolism of failure. No, the national spirit
> is embodied within the program and when the fleet once again
> achieves flight readiness status, then the national spirit will be
> revitalized. I don't think any politician can sell the need to
> cancel the shuttle program and replace it with a more modern and
> rational approach.
>
> TangoMan
>

"He turns not back who is bound to a star."
Leonardo da Vinci