Embarrassed

In a previous life I worked for the Space Shuttle program at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Most everyone whose ever worked for the Shuttle program, especially if they were directly involved in flight support as I was, will tell you that it's the most personally satisfying job that you can have. Working for the government sucks, but the work itself is really great.

So it's with great embarrassment that I read today that, one day before the return to flight of the shuttle after the Columbia disaster from foam that broke loose from the ET, a window cover weighing about 2 pounds breaks loose on the launch pad, falls 60 ft., and damages 2 tiles. Sheesh.

NASA states that they change out tiles almost every day and it was a routine and simple fix, and this I can attest to as true. But gee whiz guys - this is almost precisely the problem that you had originally! I'm sure it was a simple and unfortunate oversight, and it would not otherwise have had any bearing upon the launch since those covers are removed before launch, but from a public confidence perspective ... ugh.

Quoth the DurnMoose ... Le Sigh.