amlovell@phoenix.UUCP (06/09/88)
As I understand it, the UNTOLD story is that any number of things could
have caused the disaster because the shuttle was not being used
properly.
Many people are under the delusion that hi-tech companies and
contractors built the shuttle. Mais non! The space shuttles weren't
BUILT! They were discovered. They are naturally occurring objects,
just like rocks. Only the US flags were added, and a few in-flight
munchies whipped up in case anyone got hungry. Someone came up with the
idea that this thing looked ALMOST as though it would fly. ("Hey! look
at it from over here! Squint your eyes. Now.. don't these things look
like WINGS?") This was (as eventually became obvious) a bad idea.
It blew up because it was never meant to fly. Several people have
been puzzled about whether or not we should build a replacement for the
Challenger, but this "confusion" is a cover. The things aren't easy to
find. Not like those Saturn and Mercury things which were almost like
weeds in their numbers.
--
amlovell@phoenix.princeton.edu ...since 1963.
disclaimer:
These are MY opinions. You only WISH they were yours.