February 7, 2003
Why Aren't We There Yet? by L. Neil Smith
An article today in the Sierra Times by L. Neil Smith accurately reflects the mix of emotions I've felt in the last week about the Columbia tragedy. He's also got some interesting things to say about the asbestos link in both the Challenger disaster and the early collapse of the Twin Towers.
As for the space shuttles' solid fuel rocket boosters, the next generation of O-rings was simply manufactured without the offending asbestos. During the first few minutes of Challenger's fatal flight, burning gases inside the rocket tube ate through the substandard O-rings, creating a jet of flame -- exactly like a welding torch -- that cut into the auxiliary fuel tank under the shuttle and ignited it.For whatever it's worth, it was exactly this same phenomenon -- an insane political correctness with regard to asbestos -- that allowed the World Trade Center towers to collapse several hours earlier than they would have, killing three thousand people, if the use of asbestos hadn't been abandoned partway through their period of construction.
Speaking of the Towers:
As to Easterbrook, his notions about "rebuilding" NASA -- he wants to send the shuttles to a museum and let the space station burn up in the atmosphere just like Skylab did -- are exactly like the notions of those who want to rebuild the World Trade Center to a smaller, more humble design. Me, I'd rebuild it a mile tall and put Phalanx guns on top.
Read the article. After you read that, then read the text of a speech Neil gave 15 years ago at the December 1987 Future of Freedom Conference in Culver City, California.
Posted by Russell Whitaker at February 7, 2003 9:30 AM | TrackBack