On Sun, 2 Feb 2003, Tony Fredericks wrote:
> However, from what I understand, they knew, soon after the launch that they
> probably had a problem and they didn't do an inspection.
No, they knew after launch that there might be a problem, and they studied
it, and concluded that it probably wasn't significant and there was no
good way to check and nothing that could be done about it anyway.
> ...mentioned that they didn't have the
> proper EVA suits, but all it would have taken is a visual inspection from
> the station personnel, right after undocking.
Columbia went nowhere near the station; this was an independent flight.
> What really disturbs me is that they don't even carry a patch kit for TPS
> damage. I know how complex the TPS is (as Randall mentioned, it's like a
> tile mosaic of many different shapes), even so, some kind of patch could
> have been developed, if NASA had put any effort into it.
A patch kit was developed, early in the shuttle program, although it's no
longer carried. To be able to use it, you've got the same old problem of
needing a way to get to the trouble area.
Henry Spencer
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