18 December 2006

I have being listening to the NASA communications with the Space Shuttle and ISS during their spacewalk today. I know there isn't a lot of room for error when you are floating around in space in your spacesuit, but I don't think NASA should have to remind the astronauts to breathe, which is just about what happens. If space operations require that much direction from the ground I am wondering how we are ever going to go anywhere far where radio communications are not instantaneous. If NASA is going to have to approve every motion an astronaut takes it is going to be time for them to come back in before they ever get outside. I am thinking a major amount of control of routine activities needs to be transferred to space.

And I noticed the day before yesterday that there were no contingency supplies on board to support additional EVA activities. They were advised to dig through the laundry bin to get certain expendable undergarments and air them out for reuse on unplanned EVA #4. Even if you weren’t ever planning to add an extra spacewalk it would seem like you would want some extras of these items on board in case one gets damaged while suiting up or you have to go out at the end of the mission to repair a micro-meteorite strike to a heat-resistant tile. It isn't like you can put the spacewalk off until tomorrow while you run around the corner to Bloomingdale's to buy a new pair.