Shuttle Discovery Lifts Off 445
An anonymous reader writes "CNN is reporting that the Space Shuttle Discovery has lifted off, marking the United States' returned to manned space flight for the first time since the Columbia disaster in February 2003"
Succesful launch.. (Score:5, Insightful)
I will be celebrating wjhen it safely lands... (Score:3, Insightful)
Did you just hear a "thump"?!!! (Score:5, Insightful)
They were lives lost to managerial short-sightedness and corner-cutting.
It's one thing to take a calculated risk when you understand the odds. To take your fate in your own hands. It's totally different to put your fate in the hands of others, who then don't treat the situation with the diligence it deserves.
You wanna try your luck with the Russian space program?
Near miss? (Score:3, Insightful)
T+plus 33 minutes. A few seconds after solid rocket booster separation, a large chunk of something broke free from the external fuel tank. The onboard video camera mounted on the tank showed the object flying away from the vehicle without striking Discovery.
Want to bet that chunk of film is going to be looked at rather closely?
Object hits shuttle tail at launch (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:A toast! (Score:5, Insightful)
Here's why you're supposed to get excited (Score:1, Insightful)
You answered your question in your own post:
I have a son of my own.
I just watched the liftoff with my six year old son. Despite his significant language delay, he told me that he wants to go in space and see how big the earth is. That's why you're supposed to get excited!
Even Bet? (Score:2, Insightful)
History shows that the planet is WAY better at it than we could ever hope to be.
Even if we popped all the nukes on Earth, it'd not register on the list of extinction events.
Re:MSNBC Commentator is a jackass (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:MSNBC Commentator is a jackass (Score:0, Insightful)
The "gang" at NASA has a little more intelligence than you, that much is obvious.
The model rockets you put together in your Mom's basement, to this day, really don't give you any credibility to judge NASA. Sorry, play again later!
Re:MSNBC Commentator is a jackass (Score:5, Insightful)
You just hit the nail on the head as to what ails American TV broadcast of live events, most commentators don't know when to STFU. You'd never know a picture's worth a thousand words with all the inane drivel being spewed. Sportscasts are the worst in this regard. What I wouldn't give for the ability to filter out the commentators but keep the event/crowd sounds. Sigh...