> -----Original Message-----
> From: Wirt Atmar [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Tuesday, February 04, 2003 7:28 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Shuttle Columbia problem
>
>
> Bill writes:
>
> > a shuttle has a 1 in 200 chance every liftoff of having something
> >  catastrophic happen - that's pretty lousy odds if you ask me...
>
> The odds of catastrophic failure of a shuttle have been
> previously calculated
> to be as low as one in every 75 missions. These odds were
> well known to NASA
> before anyone flew on the shuttle, but the people who flew on
> it elected to
> fly anyway. They knew perfectly well what they were doing,
> but felt what they
> were doing was important enough to continue.
>
>

This is the important point that many politicians will conveniently ignore
in the next few weeks as they try to score political points by condemning
NASA, the current administration, global warming and the night shift janitor
at their least favorite fast food restaurant for the crash.

And to think that at one time courage and a willingness to sacrifice were
considered positive traits.

There was a small scene in "The Adventure of Baron Munchausen" that I think
demonstrates perfectly where we are heading if some politicians and
politically correct elements have their way. A soldier is brought before the
"Elected Representative" who reads off a list of heroic acts the soldier has
performed in defense of the city. The soldier's acts saved the city from
destruction so the "Elected Representative" ordered him executed immediately
as this was of course harmful to the morale of the other soldiers who could
not, or would not, do the same.

The US space program has lost, I believe, 17 people since we started sending
men into space. A pretty good record if you ask me. If the politicians stay
out of the way, and give them the resources they need, I am sure they will
evaluate and correct any problems that caused this crash and move forward.
If not, then we will spend the next few years pointing fingers and when the
dust clears find ourselves standing in the same spot with no real progress
made.

Comments are my own, not my employers... etc.





CONFIDENTIALITY NOTE: This electronic message is legally privileged and
confidential information intended only for the use of the addressee.  If you
are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any
dissemination, distribution or reproduction of this message or any
attachment is strictly prohibited.  If you received this message in error,
please notify the sender by reply e-mail, so that our address record can be
corrected and delete it immediately.

* To join/leave the list, search archives, change list settings, *
* etc., please visit http://raven.utc.edu/archives/hp3000-l.html *