Re: something missed yet another Orlando Sentinel article

I think they have to launch on schedule, for better or worse. Its reached
a political stage at this point.

To not launch will cause all public and Congressional support to collapse.
The chances are 95% anyways that the mission will be successful. NASA will
consider that risk acceptable.

If the mission fails, then we will see a long moratorium in manned space
travel. The remaining shuttle can be used to attach boosters to the space
station and send it up to a 1000 mile orbit where it will be safe for
decades. Later on, NASA can lower its orbit with retros and refurbish its
timed out systems.

One way the space agency can pique public interest is to start using
layman's terms to give a familiar frame of reference. For instance,
instead of "launch," the term "blast off" is much better. Its no more less
accurate than we say the carrier "Enterprise" is sailing to the Pacific
Theatre. Nuclear ships don't "sail." And steam ships don't sail, either,
but we keep hearing that term over and over again. Likewise, call
astronauts "spacemen," and so on. Put some spice into the program. NASA
is really acts like a bunch of old fogeys in baggy pants.

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