Sally Ride and Columbia/Challenger

spacecampaddict28 · Post by **spacecampaddict28** » Sun Jun 15, 2003 11:57 pm

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/space/06/1 ... index.html

I read through this twice and it is related to what we have been talking about. The whole Columbia, Challenger, decision making at NASA thing...I wanted to know what you guys think about it.

But a look on the bright side of things, June 18th marks the anniversary of her first flight. Woo hoo STS-7! It was STS-7 wasn't it?

Boomerang · Post by **Boomerang** » Mon Jun 16, 2003 12:47 am

Yes it was STS-7 it was the second flight of Challenger. Although if you ask alot of people they think she died on Challenger you have no idea how many times i hear that from people. But then alot of people hear the name challenger they automaticly asociate it with the accident they dont think about its 9 successful flights. So when you say she flew on challenger they think that means she died on challenger. Just like when people hear the new teacher in space Barbra Morgan was going to make her first flight ion Columbia they automaticly assume it must have been on this flight and that she got bumped from the flight to a later one thats started all kinds of false stories following the Columbia accident. But infact she was scheduled to fly Columbia this coming November on STS-118. Its sad how now Columbia will always be linked with its last flight just like Challenger and not all the successful flights they made.

spacecampaddict28 · Post by **spacecampaddict28** » Mon Jun 16, 2003 1:45 am

It will be considering Columbia had many many succesful flights before that one. When you say Columbia, people never think Young and Crippen anymore, they think of STS-107. They don't think of any of the other succesful Columbia flights before it. A lot of people try and tell me that all of the orbiters are going to explode or something now because of Challenger and Columbia. I really want to know where some people get their logic these days.

Benji · Post by **Benji** » Mon Jun 16, 2003 10:26 am

The American public aren't the smartest people in the world. I read the articles and I have to point out that I didn't like the wording of this sentece:

She returned to space a year later, again aboard Challenger, and was training for her third and final mission when the shuttle erupted in a fireball barely a minute into liftoff on January 28, 1986.

I think it might lead to a bit of confusion for some people.

Boomerang · Post by **Boomerang** » Mon Jun 16, 2003 11:51 am

I agree they could have worded that better. Also challenger exploded at a minute and 13 seconds into flight not just parely a minute makes it sound like it exploded ear;ier than it did i know not a big deal but i'm a nitpicker.

stargazer0105 · Post by **stargazer0105** » Mon Jun 16, 2003 1:44 pm

Me too, I really hate how people jump to conclusions.