http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/1791.html

Assuming this is true, NASA could use a clue, or three. Considering what happened to the last space shuttle mission, I would think saying that they "should be able to" inspect the heat shields before the launch would be completely unthinkable, but then again these people have displayed an amazing capacity for idiocy in the past.

One wonders how effective a visual inspection by the crew would be in any case...

Would be quite a turn up if the commander "refused the aircraft" (as civilian airline pilots sometimes do).

NASA is deranged

The last quirk is that they have misplaced scientific equipment between Spirit and Opportunity

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