What They Ignored

Numerous news agencies are reporting that NASA's engineers ignored major warning signs that the Columbia shuttle was not fit for flight. In addition, the L.A. Times is reporting that because some spare parts were no longer manufacted, NASA had to get them off of eBay. Woodpeckers chewed holes through shuttles.

Meanwhile, the New York Times is reporting that NASA gave the boot to advisors who warned about safety. "The panel's most recent report, which came out last March," writes the Times, "included analyses by the six departed members, warned that work on long-term shuttle safety 'had deteriorated.'"

While LostBrain recognizes that time is needed to mourn this tragedy, we feel that this is also a time to be incredibly pissed off. NASA engineers sent seven astronauts into space not really knowing if they had the machinery to bring them home alive. Or maybe they were simply too lazy to make sure. This is our way of dealing with this tragedy.

Just what other problems did NASA's engineers ignore that might have cost the astronauts their lives?