Could NASA Have Saved the Astronauts’ Lives?
Richard O’Reilly answers the question, “Could the astronauts have saved themselves or been saved by NASA?” with a “no” (“No Answer Yet as to Why Shuttle Crashed,” Feb. 9). He reasons that, even had the defect in the left wing been known, the shuttle could not have been boosted into an orbit that passed close to the space station, nor could the astronauts have been rescued by another space shuttle mission because there aren’t enough seats.
Well, how about two or three or four space shuttle missions, each ferrying up supplies and ferrying down astronauts? How about a reentry path that stressed the left wing less? Apollo 13, a mission doomed to death, ended happily because everyone looked hard for the can-do solution and found it.
Douglas Campbell
Culver City
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In my opinion, seven talented, imaginative, courageous astronauts lost their lives because our government’s space program sacrificed excellence for expediency.
It appears that the highest standard and the very best equipment were not used; so what is that really saying? What it isn’t saying is that we value and protect human life as our highest priority.
Naomi Weiner
Los Angeles
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