Why Did NASA Pay $26.6 Million to families of Columbia Astronauts?

Is this logical? Didn't they volunteer for this mission?

What about all the soldiers in Iraq? Do their families get the same compensation? Are they not worth as much?

How can they justify the worth of any person to be more than another?

$26.6 Million to Shuttle Family Survivors





[edit on 15-4-2007 by Realtruth]

Well I would suppose that they were able to do it because the number of
people killed was low enough that it would not create a huge amount of
money being given out.

As to why, well even though the Astronauts did volunteer, the shuttle
was not supposed to blow-up.

A soldier volunteers, going into service knowing that there is a
considerably high chance they Will die.

An Astronaut volunteers to go on a mission where the chance of dieing
is so low that it is not considered.

Originally posted by iori_komei
Well I would suppose that they were able to do it because the number of
people killed was low enough that it would not create a huge amount of
money being given out.

As to why, well even though the Astronauts did volunteer, the shuttle
was not supposed to blow-up.

A soldier volunteers, going into service knowing that there is a
considerably high chance they Will die.

An Astronaut volunteers to go on a mission where the chance of dieing
is so low that it is not considered.

Well I will agree with your statement about soldiers and higher chance of dying, but $26.6 million?

How about other federal employees that are not at high risk? Do their familes get the same level of compensation?

I ask these questions because I know that their are individuals on this site that remember almost every article, in regards to lawsuits and compensation.

Thanks RT

Guess what I just found?

The risks of a shuttle launch NASA says odds of dying 1 in 100, but worth it.




Does anyone know what the odds of a soldier dying are?

[edit on 15-4-2007 by Realtruth]

Originally posted by Realtruth
How about other federal employees that are not at high risk? Do their families get the same level of compensation?

I doubt it, but than when you think about it, astronauts who are
performing experiments in space are doing a more important job than
the guy that calls you reminding you that you need to pay your taxes.

Actually, being an astronaut probably has a much higher chance of living
than the other career.

Does anyone know what the odds of a soldier dying are?

There is no one answer, it really depends on where the soldier is being
sent, the odds of a soldier in Iraq dieing are much higher than a soldier
in South Korea, or in America.

Also, the odds of a soldier in Afghanistan dieing are different from the
odds of a soldier in Iraq dieing as well.


I'm not really sure anyone has actually ever done the math to figure
out the odds to tell you the truth.

Originally posted by Realtruth


How about other federal employees that are not at high risk? Do their familes get the same level of compensation?

How bout you stop pouting and knock off the guilt trip? No one is going to be sorry for you because none of your family members decided to become astronauts. This payment means there are people who work for NASA that should not be working for NASA, it is a guise to veil the incompetancy of its workers, not at large, but exposes an even greater circumstance: NASA's hiring practices are extremely questionable. Or consider this, if NASA had payed the extra $26.6 million to contractors on the lowest of bids, this may never have happened, so thank the guys in Congress and the Senate who decide that American lives are not worth an extra $26.6 million because later on the $26.6 million when payed to families will be worth less than the time when it was truely needed.

Common man... I get what your saying, but I think your at it all wrong..

I am happy that NASA gave those family members the million they got.. they are America's leading scientist, bravely going into space for this country even with the considerable risk.. well worth it imo, we should honor such endeavors and repay them. We treat scientist and such in America like scum, when they should be at the height of society.

As for the soldiers, I agree we need to pay out far more to wounded and dead soldiers, but millions is absurd, and simply not possible..

You need to remain realistic..

its litigeous even at this level...it was settled out of court.