Sean H. Breheny wrote...

>I haven't seen any mention of them being able to escape this time(I think
>they pretty well know by now that they are all dead), but the shuttle does
>have an escape system. I think the cockpit is in a separable capsule that
>can be ejected, similar to what they do in other aircraft that fly for long
>periods at supersonic speeds (F-111 for example). The problem is, of
>course, that you do need some warning in order to pull the "eject" lever.

An escape system was developed which, IIRC, could be deployed
during the last few minutes of descent, after the orbiter had
slowed to a speed which would allow a human to survive.

But Columbia broke up while traveling some 12,500 mph at an
altitude of around 200,000 feet, during the incandescent phase of
its descent. There's no surviving that.

>It does strike me as odd that this kind of failure would happen in this
>stage of flight: 200k feet altitude simply gliding in. Even though they are
>dismissing it, it does bring up thoughts of sabotage.

It's rather more than "simply gliding in".  At those speeds,
there is tremendous stress on the airframe as well as
temperatures in excess of 1,000C in places.  Along with the
launch phase, it's one of the two most dangerous periods in any
mission; almost anything that goes wrong has a high probability
of destroying the orbital with all on board lost.

>I,too, hope it does not affect the program (except, perhaps, to make it
>safer, although it is very safe considering what they are doing). I'm
>praying for the crew and their families.

Rest in peace, o brave ones.  You make it look easy, but we know
it is not.

Dave D.

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