Endeavour to Launch with Heightened Security 9
PyroMosh writes: "Well, NASA is scheduled to launch STS-108 today at 7:41 PM EST (0041 GMT). This will be the first shuttle launch following the events of September 11. As such, security is tighter than ever. There will be no public / press farewell to the astronauts as they leave for the pad. The FAA has NOTAMs covering the new airspace restrictions around Cape Canaveral. CNN is reporting that the Air Force has fighters flying Combat Air Patrol and roads and waterways on the surface will be tightly restricted. Also, Endeavour will be carrying nearly 6000 flags, which will be given to families of 9/11 victims, and organizations that helped in the aftermath. It's such a shame. I just moved to FL, and I've never seen a launch. I've seen two landings, including Endeavour's maiden voyage, so I was looking forward to this. I was in NJ on 9/11 and it hit close to home, now it's like the terrorists have taken one more thing from us. I may not be as close as I'd like to be (read: onboard), but I'll be watching anyway. Good luck, Endeavour."
It's a good thing... (Score:3, Insightful)
Sigh, this is another great American spectacle curtailed for the sake of our "safety". First fair trials, now this, whats next? Elections?
Unlike most of the other security measures... (Score:2, Insightful)
Would it be too unusual to wonder just how a terrorist could attack something like that, though? I mean, once it gets off the ground, it'll be able to outrace any missile, and crashing another plane into it is just about impossible too. Sneaking a bomb onboard would seem difficult at best, and it might not be able to ignite the fuel (one of the few ways to completely blow up the shuttle) since the main engines' fuel requires two components to ignite...unless maybe on a RC plane piloted up one of the solid booster's exhausts, igniting said booster prematurely.
...I hope that wasn't prescient.