say what??

[kitanzi]

Just received in email from CNN's Breaking News list -

NASA grounds the space shuttle progam while engineers determine the effects of debris falling from Discovery during blastoff.

How the hell can they ground it - it's in orbit! Or, more to the point, if they CAN ground it then what's the damn problem?

Edit: I meant, to clarify, that while it's in orbit it's not groundable, and if it's on the ground, they don't need to ground it. Yeah, I know, playing clumsily with the meanings of the word.)

Comments

[pocketnaomi.livejournal.com]

Apparently another piece of foam went flying when they thought it wasn't s'posed to do that anymore. This one did not happen to hit anything crucial, so there shouldn't be any danger in bringing the Discovery down, but since they can't assume the next piece of flying foam on takeoff *won't* hit anything crucial, they aren't going to send up any more till they can make the foam stay put.

I don't like it, but I can see the reasoning all too well. I just wish they could fix the damn foam.

[kitanzi.livejournal.com]

Me too - but my point was literal. How do you ground something that's in orbit, especially when the reason you want to ground it is because you're not sure it can safely be grounded?

[pocketnaomi.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Well, if they've grounded the program but not grounded the shuttle, does that mean that this particular shuttle is no longer part of the program, and can go rogue and fly off wherever it wants?

[kitanzi.livejournal.com]

Hmmm! there's an interesting thought....

[sdorn.livejournal.com]

I think this is on the order of, "Young lady, you better behave yourself on the way home, and when you get here, you're grounded for the next five years, or until you turn 30."

[kitanzi.livejournal.com]

I'd love to see you lecturing the shuttle to that effect. :) (And I'm sure you're right, but I was having fun being literal and snarky.)