Mysterious Object Delays Shuttle Landing

[Nbadan]

http://logo.cafepress.com/3/3285719.808943.jpg
Oh sure, it's all fun and games...


Sept. 19, 2006 — NASA has been forced to off tomorrow's landing of the Shuttle Atlantis because of an object — possibly debris — floating nearby shortly after sensors in the craft's wings indicated the shuttle was hit by something.

They want to make sure it's not a piece of the spacecraft, something that might in some way endanger the crew and ship on re-entry.

No one knows what it is — the mysterious gray round object orbiting near the space shuttle Atlantis at an altitude of 187 nautical miles.

Flight controllers first noticed the object early this morning at 2:45am and were so concerned they had the shuttle crew delay stowing the KU TV antenna so the crew could downlink more video of the mysterious object.

ABC News (http://www.abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=2463192&page=1)

...till somebody gets hurt.

:hat

[Yonivore]

Nice sensationalism by the media. All have agreed it's one of two things; something from inside the orbiter's payload bay or, (worse) something from off the outside of the orbiter such as a heat shield tile or something.

They'll figure it out.

[Nbadan]

Here are some Hi-res pics of the object from Space.com

http://www.space.com/images/060919_myst_object_02.jpg

[Nbadan]

Astronaut Collapses During Ceremony


HOUSTON (AP) -- An astronaut from the space shuttle Atlantis collapsed twice Friday during a welcome home ceremony, a wobbly return that officials attributed to the adjustment from 12 days at zero gravity.

Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper left the hangar at Ellington Field through a side door but was not taken to a hospital, officials said.

Piper, fifth of the six astronauts to speak, appeared to be confused before her legs buckled during her address. NASA officials and crew members braced her and lowered her to the ground. She stood up again, and the crowd applauded.

"Boy, if that's not a little embarrassing," she said.

After speaking for another half-minute or so, she again appeared confused and gripped the podium. Crew members stepped to her side and lowered her to the floor.

The Atlantis crew returned Thursday after performing the first construction work on the international space station since the Columbia disaster 3 1/2 years ago.

They performed three grueling spacewalks to hook up a 17 1/2-ton addition, which included a giant set of electricity-producing solar panels.

AP (http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/ASTRONAUT_COLLAPSES?SITE=SCCOL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT)

Can you say?

http://www.ilcancello.com/archivio_grafica/FOTO_GRAFICA/Aliens/alien_movie_monster_12.jpg

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Can you say Ziploc?

[Marklar MM]

Looks like melted Tupperware. Tupperware is expensive shit.