With all the trouble that NASA has had?

Question

Isn't it nice to see their astronauts on the front pages for something other than an engineering disaster.

Yeah, I'm ashamed.

But you gotta admit...

Answer 1

That is an incredibly insulting thing to say.

The fact is that yes, NASA has had 2 shuttle disasters and 1 Apollo disaster resulting the loss of life. However, that is throughout the entire existence of their organization. In almost 50 years and approaching almost 200 manned spaceflights we have lost 17 people. Those people knew what the risks were, and knew that they were working to better our understanding of space.

To say something so caustic about the US space program not only is insulting, but is ridiculous.

Astronaut Nowack is but one of hundreds of astronauts, all of whom have never seen the inside of a jail cell. She also still deserves some respect as being one of only a handful of people to fly into and work in space. We all do crazy things, and yes, I won't deny she went a little crazier than most. However, we all have a breaking point.

I am an engineer for a NASA contractor, and it saddens me that all you can think of are NASA's bad moments. Since the Columbia disaster, we have flown several successful missions and ramped back up to almost a full mission schedule. All of NASA's employees and contractors work everyday to ensure the safety of our astronauts. NASA has done more for the advancement of mankind than you will ever know.

Take your pessimistic attitude, and please try to think before you talk next time.

Answer 2

Slightly perverse, very offensive, and yes . . . I laughed.