Sunday, March 30, 2003

NASA: THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS NOW I have been following the various articles which have chronicled the NASA bureaucracy's refusal to listen to the concerns of its engineers about possible damage to Columbia during launch and the bureaucrats' refusal to use telescopes and satellites to inspect the shuttle for possible damage. I have even downloaded copies of some emails voicing these concerns which turned out to be right on the money. This sharply contrasts with the NASA of the late 50's early 60's which invented the spaceflight business. I read an interesting quote in Scott Carpenter's autobiography For Spacious Skies, The Uncommon Journey of a Mercury Astronaut that really brings home the difference: "The decision sprang from the finest bottom-up traditions of the old Pilotless Aircraft Research Division and what some have called Gilruth's management by respect. With everyone in Project Mercury making it up as they went along - from engineers working on the hardware (rockets, capsules, propellants) to the aeromedical professionals busy with the flesh-and-blood part of the program (chimps, pigs, contour couches, humans) - the Space Task Group fell back on its NACA instinct: trust the workers." Not exactly the NASA we have today is it? On an unrelated note, there is an operation afoot to boycott Cheyenne's blog until she gives up smoking. In fact a coalition has been formed for this very purpose. I have been branded part of the "Axis of Evil" because I have taken the position that more nicotine inspections are necessary and I will veto any resolution to boycott her blog. I have maintained my support, however, for a continued "cigarettes for booze" program of humanitarian aid. 2:49:01 PM    Go Ahead, make my day  []