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.

[Riley]

Agreed. Now that I am calming down a little bit, and having done some skydiving, an exit from a craft at that speed and that altitude is just a flat-out 'no way'.

Buzz Aldrin is on FOX now.

[apackof2]

Security was usually tight because there was an Israeli astronant aboard

[TomB]

Is there any way this could be terrorism? Could a ballistic missile have taken it out? Or could a terrorist infiltrated NASA and planted something.

No. It would be impossible for anything (conventional) to hit an object 200,000 feet in the air travelling at 12,000 mph.

Could we please can the terrorism speculation?

[The_Media_never_lie]

I will agree however that NASA should be under military command and not politicized.

I agree, and sending John Glenn back into space was the height of politicalization-no redeeming scientific/military value.

Why were there 7 on board? Surely all know after Challenger that these are extremely complex and dangerous craft? There is a place for pilots, but the space tourists?

[Bahbah]

Thanks. Palatine is in Illinois.

[Richard Axtell]

This is a very grave and tragic event. I hope everyone here, along with recognition and mourning of the loss of the crew of the Columbia, also be sober and circumspect, and NOT give rein to wild speculation and/or hysterical accusations regarding this disaster. There is always this short period of time, early in the developing phase of any disaster, that information is incomplete, and often wild and erroneous rumors spread rapidly. There is no benefit, and only further harm in spreading UNCONFIRMED rumors. Any mention of such a rumor, should clearly be labeled as such, with serious caveats against the kind of speculation I am talking about. Let's see what is true and factual in this situation, and deal with the facts as they are.

[MadIvan]

President Bush must be wondering what he got himself into. He has seen more tragedy in 2 years than most Presidents see in 2 full terms.

Regards, Ivan

[HiJinx]

Good Morning, Meek. I hope you have someone close for comfort, this is terrible.

I have a suspicion there will be debris over three or four states...OK, TX, AK, LA. People on the thread are saying they heard the noise in Western Louisiana.

Keep us posted, FRiend!

[MeekOneGOP]

That should be Channel 8, an ABC affiliate in Dallas, not FOX News.

Debris found in Clara, Okla

[john316]

Ditto that...My 12 year old just informed me that a freinds father was on that flight.

[prisoner6]

Interstingly enough NONE of the D-FW wevbcans I check are online at the momment! Curious ...could just be server overload, BUT then again...?

prisoner6

[July 4th]

Thank you--

[snopercod]

"The Green Hills of Earth" was the one I posted (on Compuserve, not here) after the Challenger accident. Thanks.

[anniegetyourgun]

And given the temps, there isn't going to be much left to piece together to determine the cause. This will take a very long time....we may never fully know.

[ez]

After bill clinton tried to blame OKC on Rush Limbaugh and "hate radio" I put nothing past them.

[isthisnickcool]

Many of these people have kids here in the Nasa/Clear Lake area. How sad to watch your parent die on television.

[My back yard]

Beautiful piece, and well timed post.

[Faraday]

Americans are an inquisitive, exploratory people. Explorers are always on the edge. We will suffer losses because we lean into the wind of discovery. Hail the brave!