Ethical engineering, science, maintenance practices/standards in
designing and operating space vehicles and their programs should not
allow for acceptance of astronaut deaths, or should anyone provide an
illogical, circular excuse such as "it's a dangerous profession"
or "Columbus would never have sailed with such an attitude". This
circular logic DOES NOT make the 2nd flight after the death of the
sts-107 crew, and loss of Columbia ANY safer but instead betrays the
honesty/integrity that it takes to make the best and safest vehicles
for those who are willing to risk their lives as explorers. Both
vessel types the noa and caravel used by Columbus in his voyage across
the Atlantic had already proven to be seaworthy or "safe" years
before departing for the americas in 1492, and yes it would have been
unethical and stupid to set out on such a voyage with first
understanding the vessel was seaworthy.
Participating in the space program, is not for the faint of heart, for
it takes a culmination of intelligence, bravery, ethics, and
professionalism to be in the business of space flight. This means
having the qualities to be in the space program also requires the
utilizing all of our gifts and skills to overcome our desires
to-launch, and arrive to a conclusion we do not desire, to not-launch
for safety concerns. Ensuring a program is safe or a launch is not
safe, requires utilizing all of our human abilities to ensure the
utmost safety for a shuttle crew is the highest priority, which means
demanding NO other factors should be allowed to bias the decisions for
a mission's launch or a programs priorities.
tom


George Evans wrote:
in article ,
columbiaaccidentinvestigation at
wrote on 6/24/06 10:34 AM:

snip

...Ethical engineering, science, maintenance practices/standards in designing
and operating space vehicles and their programs should not allow for
acceptance of astronaut deaths, or should anyone provide an illogical,
circular excuse such as "it's a dangerous profession" when tragedies happen.
Every life is precious, and risks associated with the loss of life whether it
is your own or somebody else's should not be trivialized. As we are all
members of the "space interested community" it is important for all of us to
understand why the previous tragedies happened, because we cannot allow them
to be repeated.

This section which is tack on to the end of the section is, pardon my
bluntness, a bunch of BS put in to placate congress. Certainly every life is
precious, which makes the price some are willing to pay, to advance the
cause, awe inspiring. How arrogant for the author to try and place himself
shoulder to shoulder with such brave men and women as members of the "space
interested community?" There would be no space if these daring individuals
were not willing to risk for us.

Can you imagine such drivel coming from Colombus' mouth when one of his
ships went down? We cannot "allow" these tragedies to be repeated? We can
stand by quietly with heads bowed in appreciation, is what we can do.

George Evans