Space Forum / Shuttle / October 2006

I was watching the replay of the launch and at the end of the roll program
you see the other side of the
ET, there is what looks to me as a black square 3/4 the way up the ET?? It
resembles almost a hole

I am recently retired from NASA and was right in the middle of the move to
go back to capsules vs. winged vehicles landing on runways.
What surprised me the most was even the pilot astronauts liked capsules
better.  Keep in mind the USA astronaut corps flies both at this time --  

Following on from the recent thread about returning astronauts fainting and
feeling wobbly on return after just 12 days, and the comments of the
commander that in fact it got better  after each mission, I was wondering
what it is that makes Nasa  retire an Astronaut from flight? ...

This topic has been done many times before, especially right after Columbia,
but it may be relevant now than ever...
Lets say Columbia, or any shuttle now, was damaged after lift off.  The
extent of the damage, or even that there is any damage, isn't know until it

Astronaut Collapses During Ceremony
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=2478889
HOUSTON Sep 22, 2006 (AP)- An astronaut from the space shuttle
Atlantis collapsed twice Friday during a welcome home ceremony, a

This isn't a specific-Shuttle question, but since this group has a bit
more traffic than some of the other sci.space groups, and explosive
bolts are still used (I think...) on Shuttle, I'll ask it here.
Been watching some old NASA Mercury program footage that's available now

I have been wondering what "single engine prest amigo" is. I am not
sure about the correct spelling.  I know that it might have something
to do with the ascent of the space shuttle.
I have also heard just the term prest amigo alone without any engine

I have no real solid argument here, but am I the only one who thinks that
after all the years of flying a reusable winged vehicle, Nasa are throwing
away a whole lot of experience and  knowledge  by returning to this capsule
approach to re-entry?

Mars Rover News Briefing
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1055
STS-115 Post Mission Interview with Pilot Chris Ferguson
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1054

While Dumb a.s Government Educated Americans watch Oprah and
Rosie and worry about getting laid...............
China has secretly fired powerful laser weapons designed to
disable American spy satellites by "blinding" their

OK, so this is more suited to the iss group, but I thought I'd ask why they
are  all leaving the station to move the soyuz, surely if it blew up or
something, its better to still save one. OK pretty depressing thought, but I
thought in the past with three crew, this was only done ...

This is an odd question, I will admit, but I was wondering if anyone knew
whether NASA uses any particular make/model of passenger vans at their
facilities. I know the shuttle itself ususally gets all the attention, but
I'm curious about the day to day work and transport vehicles ...

I think that was what it was called.. they said (forget who "they" is
but, anyway..) the last flight, the ascent was done under a
lower-stress profile, but this one was done under higher-stress.. how
do they do that, since on tv it looks identical - is it in the ssme

I read on an earlier post that there is video available of the ascent of
Soyuz from the view of inside the craft looking at the crew.
Can anyone point me to that link?
Thank you very much.

Just minutes ago, I heard Capcom mention that the ISS was going into an LOS,
and that they would resume their conversation, once they were out of the
LOS.
As far as I can see, there are 10 TDRS satellites distributed fairly evenly,