Columbia STS-107: Different MMT Transcripts

wrote:


As we now know, none of this would have saved Columbia.


Which leaves us all wondering why we are still discussing it then as the
result is the same.


On Feb. 1 û the day Columbia broke up over Texas û space shuttle
program manager Ron Dittemore told reporters that even if damage to
the spacecraftÆs critical thermal protection armor was extensive,
engineers would have been helpless to correct it. ôThereÆs nothing
we can do about tile damage once we get to orbit,ö Dittemore said,
a sentiment he repeated six times that day.



And thÆt is indeed the case. They can't repair the damage in a way that
will save the vehicle or its crew, so what's the big deal with
continuing this line of argument? It's like saying if they started
flooding the aft compartments on the Titanic after hitting the iceberg
it would sink on a even keel rather than bow first, but it would still sink.

Pat