ENDEAVOR shuttle may be stranded in space

webfusion

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webfusion
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070811/ap_on_sc/space_shuttle

NASA is reporting that the STS-118 crew may be forced to remain in the International Space Station, and be unable to return to Earth in their Endeavour craft.

A section of heat-tile on the underbelly has been damaged, and may not be repairable at this time, which would mean that the astronauts are marooned aboard the orbiting Space Station (until October, when a 'rescue mission' could be launched).
 
It's a little early to be saying that. A closer inspection using the laser system mounted on the end of the robotic arm is planned for Sunday. That will better determine the extent of the problem. Additional sites for reports:

Here's a report from the Space.com web site.

Here's a CTV online report about the story.
 
You know, when I read about stuff like this happening, I have to laugh at the clods who think that UFOs from other planets infest our skies and that they come here just to anal probe us or make crop circles or butcher a few cows.

We can't even put a spaceship into orbit without it being damaged by a freaking piece of foam or a chunk of ice??? Yet there are millions of people who believe that spaceships travel thousands of light-years at lightspeed (or faster!) just to freaking ANAL PROBE THEM!!!???

Captain Kirk would never let a piece of ice stop him from doing the Horizontal Bop with every alien woman in the galaxy! Warp 10, Scotty!
 
shemp said:
You know, when I read about stuff like this happening, I have to laugh at the clods who think that UFOs from other planets infest our skies and that they come here just to anal probe us or make crop circles or butcher a few cows.
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How about performing anal probes on cows before butchering them to make crop circles?
 
shemp said:
. . . . We can't even put a spaceship into orbit without it being damaged by a freaking piece of foam or a chunk of ice??? Yet there are millions of people who believe that spaceships travel thousands of light-years at lightspeed (or faster!) just to freaking ANAL PROBE THEM!!!???

Captain Kirk would never let a piece of ice stop him from doing the Horizontal Bop with every alien woman in the galaxy! Warp 10, Scotty!
Click to expand...
Travelers from other galaxies don't need to spend any time in space vehicles. They warp time and space so that reaching the earth or any other part of the universe is like stepping from one room into another. The problem is with fine-tuning where this process places the traveler. It's easy enough to dial in earth, but what some earthlings experience as probing may be just an unfortunate landing site for an intergalactic tourist.
 
shemp said:
Yet there are millions of people who believe that spaceships travel thousands of light-years at lightspeed (or faster!) just to freaking ANAL PROBE THEM!!!???
Click to expand...
This is a reasonable fear for those of us who have perfectly sculpted derrieres. YMMV :p
 
webfusion said:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070811/ap_on_sc/space_shuttle

NASA is reporting that the STS-118 crew may be forced to remain in the International Space Station, and be unable to return to Earth in their Endeavour craft.

A section of heat-tile on the underbelly has been damaged, and may not be repairable at this time, which would mean that the astronauts are marooned aboard the orbiting Space Station (until October, when a 'rescue mission' could be launched).
Click to expand...

My money is on the side that this option will NOT happen... way to pluck two lines out of the story! :D
 
UnrepentantSinner said:
Why does the verbiage of the OP have a "Shuttle locked in death struggle" Airplane II vibe to it?
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Where am I gonna find a piece of metal, here, in space, at this hour?


Ted Striker:
They're launching the XR-2300! You know what that is doctor?
Dr. Stone:
The muffler bracket for the '79 Pinto?
Ted Striker:
No, that's the XR-2200. The 2300 is the lunar shuttle.

Ahh... good times.
I wonder if they'll have to engage the blow up autopilot?
 
Katana said:
Why can't they just reconfigure the deflector shields?
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NASA already had a solution - nanobots that would climb out over the shuttle, form a protective matrix during re-entry and then fall away as they were incinerated.

Unfortunately some fundy Bush appointee demanted they be programmed with Free Will and they'll refuse any suicide missions.
 
UnrepentantSinner said:
NASA already had a solution - nanobots that would climb out over the shuttle, form a protective matrix during re-entry and then fall away as they were incinerated.

Unfortunately some fundy Bush appointee demanted they be programmed with Free Will and they'll refuse any suicide missions.
Click to expand...


Where's Scotty when you need him?
 
Lemastre said:
Travelers from other galaxies don't need to spend any time in space vehicles. They warp time and space so that reaching the earth or any other part of the universe is like stepping from one room into another. The problem is with fine-tuning where this process places the traveler. It's easy enough to dial in earth, but what some earthlings experience as probing may be just an unfortunate landing site for an intergalactic tourist.
Click to expand...


That's why you need these guys. And they don't work cheap.
 

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webfusion said:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070811/ap_on_sc/space_shuttle

NASA is reporting that the STS-118 crew may be forced to remain in the International Space Station, and be unable to return to Earth in their Endeavour craft.

A section of heat-tile on the underbelly has been damaged, and may not be repairable at this time, which would mean that the astronauts are marooned aboard the orbiting Space Station (until October, when a 'rescue mission' could be launched).
Click to expand...
From the article:
If NASA determines the gouge in the shuttle's belly — or any other damage to the heat shield — needs to be repaired, the work probably would be done in a fourth spacewalk next Friday or so. The astronauts have a repair kit on board with three types of patching material; the kit has flown on every mission since the 2003 Columbia disaster.
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So, they are on a bike, have a bike tire repair kit, but can't drive the bike home after getting a flat.

I guess not, I guess web is playing yellow journalist. Not well played.

DR
 
Darth Rotor said:
From the article:

So, they are on a bike, have a bike tire repair kit, but can't drive the bike home after getting a flat.

I guess not, I guess web is playing yellow journalist. Not well played.

DR
Click to expand...


Not sure I'm following you there, DR.

Could you clarify your second statement?
 
It could be a ruse. The astronauts might just be saying the tiles are damaged, just to get the extra layover at the ISS and test out, finally, a certain unmentionable activity in a weightless environment. And away from NASA's prying and voyeuristic eyes.

In space, no one can hear you scream.
 
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