OT: Space Shuttle Grounded?

[elevmike]

Mike,
I'm pretty sure all the tiles are unique. I held a reject once, about 8x10x1.25. Weighed maybe a 1/2 oz and was quite pourous except the surface was fairly smooth.

I'm wondering what if they discoverd a bunch of missing tiles on the leading edge of the wing or stabilizer? This would mean sure disaster. Is it too far fetched to have a Soyouz rescue capsule ready to launch? Or maybe an Atlas at the ready. Just payload the Atlas with the proper spare tiles?

 

[theDave2]

I'm pretty sure all the tiles are unique.

You are correct.

 

[Leadfoot]

Rod (Wasting femtoseconds)

You better cut that out.

 

[testsubject]

In the latest edition of "Spectrum" (a magazine that is published by the IEEE) there is an article on the "Space Elevator." I haven't had a chance to read it yet but thought that everyone here might be interested.

http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/WEBONLY/publicfeature/aug05/0805spac.html

Bob

 

[gbradley]

These guys sound like they are actually putting some critical thought into the next step.

At least their website is pretty slick.