Much like my knee which has significantly fewer moving parts, the Shuttle Programme is on the comeback trail.
NASA's just issued plan points out that "considerable progress" has been made in the past months in the agency's return to flight efforts and to make the Shuttle safer.Sort of sounds like a fluff piece PR exercise, but we'll take it for now. I mean, we won't know it's a crock until; the next Shuttle takes another 7 astronauts to a rarefied grave up there.
"We're feeling very good about being back in the flying mode next spring," Wayne Hale, Space Shuttle Program Deputy Manager said in a press briefing today in discussing the return to flight status of the space plane.
The implementation report stresses that extensive work is ongoing to eliminate critical ascent debris -- the root cause that led to the Columbia accident.Now this is the devil in the detail as to how exactly they pin this tail on the moving donkey. As William Hurt's character mumbles in 'Broadcast News', "You know, it's so hard when they keep on moving the damn goal posts"
NASA is redesigning the external tank bipod assembly to eliminate the large foam ramp and replace it with electric heaters to prevent ice formation. Furthermore, other potential sources of critical ascent debris are being identified and eliminated, the report says.
NASA is already pursuing a comprehensive testing program to understand the root causes of foam shedding and develop alternative design solutions to reduce the debris loss potential. Lastly, the space agency is slated to conduct tests and analyses to ensure that the shuttle can withstand potential strikes from "noncritical" ascent debris.
On the Mend
My knee's a little better today. I can sit up and it can take the slight mass on it. Still hop around on one leg, but I don't scream when I swing the knee to change directions. Also getting more extension.
On the Road
In a few days I'll be off directing 'Key Psycho', my first feature film; well, it'll be around 50 minutes and shot on miniDV, but it will be widescreen and Black and White. It's a combined fusionof the classics 'Psycho' and 'Key Largo', hence the title. Some people have read the script and said it reminded them of 'Identity', but apart from the fact that it takes place in a motel, there isn't much else they have in common. Why am I doing this now? Damned if I knew, except Damned if you do and Damned if you don't, so it's Do Time.
Anyway, the important thing is that I may miss a few days here, so please understand; I'm busy doing my real thing.
- Art Neuro