7.25.2005
Standby to Waive?
Is a space shuttle only safe as its faultiest sensor?
(One view about the difference between businesspeople and lawyers goes like this: For businesspeople, if on a project that consists of, say, 1000 items, 999 of the items work out perfectly, and one item goes wrong, the project is success. But for lawyers, that same outcome represents failure.)
Everyone knows risks have always been part of rocketry. Some folks are nervous about NASA's willingness to waive its rule that would have required all four sensors to be functioning at the rescheduled Discovery launch tomorrow. Tonight, countdown is underway even though the agency still is mystified by the sensor problem. It remains to be seen if the strange glitch recurs.
But many folks agree with James Oberg who says NASA is making the right decision. (And here is a dynamic chart of the things NASA did change on the orbiter since Challenger.)
In any case, the Probe says Godspeed to Commander Collins and her crew. (Of course, lousy weather cannot be waived.)
(One view about the difference between businesspeople and lawyers goes like this: For businesspeople, if on a project that consists of, say, 1000 items, 999 of the items work out perfectly, and one item goes wrong, the project is success. But for lawyers, that same outcome represents failure.)
Everyone knows risks have always been part of rocketry. Some folks are nervous about NASA's willingness to waive its rule that would have required all four sensors to be functioning at the rescheduled Discovery launch tomorrow. Tonight, countdown is underway even though the agency still is mystified by the sensor problem. It remains to be seen if the strange glitch recurs.
But many folks agree with James Oberg who says NASA is making the right decision. (And here is a dynamic chart of the things NASA did change on the orbiter since Challenger.)
In any case, the Probe says Godspeed to Commander Collins and her crew. (Of course, lousy weather cannot be waived.)
