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Originally posted by Styrofoaman:
"Plain and simple, NASA cleaned house with the safety panel becaue the current members didn't like the safety cuts being made."

When did plain and simple become synonomous with baseless and no facts to back it up?


"Guess what? Turns out NASA thinks the foam had nothing to do with the breakup.... So that leaves several disturbing choices: 1) Someone screwed up during an overhaul and missed somthing. 2) Pilot error 3) Sabotage."

NASA hasn't said one way or the other on the subject....its called an investigation for a reason, and it won't be over with in a week or two, the press are the ones talking up possible causes. 1) Could've happened 2) More likely a flight control computer error than pilot error, since the shuttle is under computer control during descent (pilot only has emergency capability to override and no indication from the downlink that he attempted to do so). 3) If you were going to sabotage a shuttle, where would u do it? During descent when cameras aren't "generally" pointed at it, or sitting on or just above the launch pad where ALL cameras are pointing and usually sending out live feeds?

"Yeah. Ok. If they admit that the foam/ice damaged the wing and they ignored it, someone would loose thier job. (Shuttle Program Director!)"

They didn't ignore it, a TECHNICAL decision was made that it was not a flight safety issue, despite this fact I would imagine the director would step down because of his own personal feelings of responsibilities, we forget that these folks are human beings too.

"One more thing: Y'all vastly over-estimate the impact NASA has had on devloping products for daily life."

Again I say do alittle research and find out the facts.

"Keep up the river of flame, folks. MY heat-shield is still intact."

Again, another example of poor taste on your part, considering recent events.

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Age of Exploration: Primary purpose, the exploitation of people and lands for the purpose of expanding nations and building nation's treasuries. After doing this, use the land as staging platforms for engaging enemies in battle.

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America in the late 18th century was not a major player on the world stage. This honor was given to the Continental European nations, Britain, and Russia. US was a product of the Age of Exploration.

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Not entirely sure how this is relevent; if it's a reference to the above fact about the Continental navy, then I should point out that the RN also underwent significant reductions in the number of ships available, frequently, although usually after wars (obviously). Oh, and by the way, wooden hulled Napoleonic ships of the line were still being used as training accomodation and classrooms as late as WWII, and were still floating and seaworthy, as was proved by the fact that most were towed out to sea and scuttled after the war ( )

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"I am an almost extinct breed, an old-fashioned gentleman, which means I can be a cast-iron son-of-a-bitch when it suits me." --Jubal Harshaw