Re: after the next accident...

But everyone knows that when you put on that "administrator's hat" all your
brains leak out. :-)

George Evans

Hmmm.  These guys look suspiciously like engineers to me - see experts from
their NASA biographies below:

Hale earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Rice
University in 1976, and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from
Purdue University in 1978.

Hale began his career with NASA in 1978 as a propulsion officer in the
Propulsion Systems Section, Flight Control Division of Flight Operations at the
Johnson Space Center.

Hale served as a flight director in Mission Control for 41 Space Shuttle
missions.

Griffin received a bachelor's degree in Physics from Johns Hopkins University;
a master's degree in aerospace science from Catholic University of America; a
Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland; a master's
degree in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California; a
master's degree in applied physics from Johns Hopkins University

A registered professional engineer in Maryland and California, Griffin is a
member of the National Academy of Engineering and the International Academy of
Astronautics, an honorary fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and
Astronautics (AIAA), a fellow of the American Astronautical Society, and a
member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers..

Earlier in his career, Griffin served as chief engineer and as associate
administrator for Exploration at NASA

But they are *differently* educated.  Who are you going to believe
about the risks of a complex system; folks whose training and
expertise is in building and analyzing complex systems or folks whose
training and expertise is in managing large organizations?

Having said that, the final call belongs to the manager because he's
the one who's going to have to go to that uncomfortable meeting to
explain any incorrect decision, whether it is a decision to delay or a
decision to launch.  The job of the engineers is to make sure the
manager understands both the upside and downside risks.

Why are the engineers the experts? They are not any more educated.

George Evans

Well we have Griffin openly admitting.......

"You're not gonna like this, and I'm sure I'm not going to like how it
sounds in print, but we are playing the odds," NASA
Administrator Mike Griffin said. "

from florida today.......

with griffin playing the odds oys very possible we will have another
disaster.

at that point Griffin can watch as manned space gets gutted from the
agency he was supposed to care for.

Griffin is the first admin to over rule the experts and say

launch anyway lets play the odds..........

I decided to stop by to see how things are here pre-launch, and this is
what I was met with--more screeching from Bbo Hlaler. I can't believe it
anyone still replies to him. I just can't.

I came to the conclusion long ago that it isn't he fears another
accident, but that he lives for the day there is an accident.

Hope the rest of you are well.

Godspeed, Discovery.

rl

Correction... Shameless!!!

You're a sick man, Bob...sick, sick, sick. You say this days before a
launch? Do you know that families of the astronauts might read this?

You couldn't care less about the crew and their families, Bob. You're a
drama queen, and you only care about the attention you draw to youself.
You are shameful.

Manned space will likely be gutted from NASA.

That leaves pads 39 A & B with no futher use.

I think they should be made into nice permanent exhibits.

Return 39B to the appearance of the apollo era, and stack a full model
of a saturn 5 in launch configuration. Build large plexiglass bubble
over entire structure, and do the same for the other pad stacking a
left over tank, solids less ful and enterprise.

both vehicles can be left straing to go somewhere

Open both pads for tours, something thats never been available to the
general public. Turn the VAB into a museum too, and while there at it
build a memorial to Apoolo one at the pad and return the capsule to its
post fire condition and exhibit it in a small proper way.

this would help the local economy thru tourism,.

the government should offere big bucks for other private companies
space operations