Shuttle launch today

Against recommendation of some NASA safety personnel.

If there's an accident, is it the end of the manned space program?

They've already decided to scrap the shuttle program in 2010, and another accident would mean a couple years of investigation and renovations, etc etc. which would carry them up to about 2009, plus the Bush administration is not wildly enthusiastic about space anyway.

Another shuttle goes down, they pull the plug on the whole deal.

 

Setbacks in the space program are only opportunites for Hailburton to make money

 

Some safety people are always going to have concerns. Heck, it's a flying bomb, I'd have concerns, too.

Godspeed to the crew and those who watch over it.

 

Here's the launch blog from nasa.gov: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/sts-121/launch-vlcc.html

There's also a video feed on the site.

 

I'm watching it on HD.Net and it is amazing in HD.
Thank you, Mark Cuban.

 

Why are we even spending billions to go into space anymore? We beat the Commies to the moon...

 

I can't answer that question, but I'm still all about spending money on it. I guess I never got over wanting to be an astronaut.

Also, Bush's admin is against going to space? I thought he was all for it with the go-to-Mars thing?

 

I thought it was on hold? Are they still doing it? Isn't launch in like four minutes?

 

I just put it on ABC; they are still showing golf.

 

Launch postponed to 3:26 p.m. EDT tomorrow (Sunday.)

Back to World Cup.

 

The "go forward at all costs" mentality has pervaded NASA. Safety takes a back seat to launching.

The whole program is an ox waiting to be gored.

 

Um, except they didn't launch?