Orbiter Obvious - 9/12/2005 11:23 AMVery sad. I'm more shocked about the forcing of the launch for Reagan. Is that comfirmed or is it just rumor?
Super George - 9/12/2005 12:41 PMYes, I think it was based on a rumor that the President wanted to include that a Teacher was able to travel into space on the ship he christened (STS-4 Columbia, end of test flights).Personally I do not think that would mean NASA was forced to launch and Reagan wouldn't of had anything to do with the risk factor given the blow to the program that it ended up being.Maybe NASA upper management didn't want to delay for the President, to keep him happy as he was the paymaster at the time. Maybe NASA didn't want to ruin their attempt to have that "year of the Shuttle" after just the second flight.Whatever it was, it highlighted the arrogance of a time where NASA didn't listen to its contractors or itself when told to launch would be a major risk.
Super George - 9/12/2005 12:41 PMWhatever it was, it highlighted the arrogance of a time where NASA didn't listen to its contractors or itself when told to launch would be a major risk.
Chris Bergin - 10/12/2005 12:52 PM14 flights in 1986?