Shuttle Contact LOST-No Tracking Data During RE-Entry!

Nasa TV | 02/01/03 | GRRRR

[GRRRRR]

Shuttle has NOT been heard from or seen on tracking radar since 0800Hrs CDT. No contact at Merrit Island tracking station, no voice comm...DEVELOPING.

[txradioguy]

I just remember them making 3 or 4 unmanned missions in the early 90's or late 80's. Then they didn't fly it anymore.

[twyn1]

We have other shuttles -- not sure how many still in commission -- 2 or 3 ?? I don't think we would bother with the expense to build another one, the technology is old -- some want to go beyond the shuttle era, but the billions involved for very little gain is a real stinking point (other than being a kinda-cool sci-fi PR ploy, what important purpose does the space station actually serve ??)

[Diddle E. Squat]

Just joining, sorry if this has been asked before.

Is there any possibility of sabotage with some sort of laser? Given that re-entry is so difficult, vulnerable, and precise, could it perhaps offer just enough interference/heat/destabalization/whatever to impact the shuttle?

[Man of the Right]

It there was a compelling need for moon rocks an unmanned probe could retrieve them for a fraction of the cost.

[txradioguy]

"I think the Buran is stripped out and sitting in Gorkiy Park on public display."



The Buran! That's it. Too bad that's it's a park display for the birds to poop on now.

[Smile-n-Win]

Glad you recognize some of your fellow DUmmies are way over the mark here. Thank you for making this friendly gesture--I'm pretty sure you made history with it today...

[OReilly]

Probably aircap for Marine One's return from Camp David.

I realize that Marine One would have the best instrumentation possible, but the landing zone at the south lawn of the White House is not equivalently set up for Cat-5 type conditions, so far as I know.

The Weather was even worse at Camp David, hence the Ground transport, I guess. Bush is probably a little torqued about now, not being able to address the Citizens, as yet.

[AppyPappy]

In my opinion a missle!!

Not a chance. Nothing can reach that altitude.

[Kip Lange]

For once in my life, I'm at a loss for words.

[Moonman62]

We are getting reports from Central California from photographers are telling us that they saw a couple small objects flying free of the shuttle's streak across the sky.

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts107/status.html

[buccaneer81]

What ever became of the Russian Shuttle?

Buran never flew with humans aboard. The one prototype is gathering dust somewhere in Russia. We could design and build an improved shuttle before Buran ever saw daylight.

[meanie monster]

After seeing that trash, it just made me proud to be here with all you wonderful people. This site rocks.

[Milwaukee_Guy]

ABC News showing what appears to be a recovered liquid fuel rocket exhaust nozzle.

No comment or graphic explaining when or where this was found.

Based on the NEXRAD imagry I would guess the larger pieces will be found in Louisiana.

[RightWhale]

It will fly again

Probably. The military will need it. I'm going to be cold about this. If they can't afford the PR, they shouldn't fly anyone but test pilots and military aviators.

[txradioguy]

"he just apologized for something..but I didn't catch what he had said to get him in trouble"


There were a couple times in there that his voice was cracking. He used to be a reporter for WSVN in Miami. Probably covered a couple launches. Reporters are human. May just be that he was upset and didn't get into trouble.

[twyn1]

Thank you for that post -- you are right -- prayers for the lost astronauts and for their families/loved ones

[Man of the Right]

The speech is a Peggy Noonan masterpiece, as was Reagan's delivery.

[DoughtyOne]

If you would like a screen saver of this photo, right click on it to download an 800x600 version.
If you would like a 1024x768 version, please left click.  Once the new photo comes on the screen, right click to download it.
NASA allows free distribution of their images.  This should not be redistributed for profit.
I just discovered a flaw in the larger version and will replace it in a few minutes.

[txradioguy]

Cool, story's now been comfirmed by two sources.