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Shuttle Contact LOST-No Tracking Data During RE-Entry!
Nasa TV | 02/01/03 | GRRRR

Posted on 02/01/2003 6:16:05 AM PST by 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.


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: Florida; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: astronauts; columbia; columbiatragedy; disaster; du; feb12003; ilanramon; india; israel; nasa; ramon; revoltingevilduers; shuttle; space; spaceshuttle; sts107; unitedstates
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To: MadIvan
I feel for the president, but I'm glad we've got him there.
441 posted on 02/01/2003 7:00:30 AM PST by mewzilla
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To: AllSmiles
Multiple aircraft at "full burners" left efd approx 08:10
442 posted on 02/01/2003 7:00:40 AM PST by john316
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To: Texas_Jarhead
insulation foam? sounds inconsequnetial

At high speeds, a pea is deadly.

443 posted on 02/01/2003 7:00:44 AM PST by Lazamataz (I have learned, over the years, to NEVER assume ANYTHING..)
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To: Moonman62
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts107/status.html

1440 GMT (9:40 a.m. EST)

During a mission status news conference yesterday, Entry Flight Director Leroy Cain was asked about any possible damage to the shuttle's thermal tiles during launch. The tiles are what protect the shuttle during the fiery reentry into Earth's atmosphere.

Tracking video of launch shows what appears to be a piece of foam insulation from the shuttle's external tank falling away during ascent and hitting the shuttle's left wing near its leading edge.

But Cain said engineers "took a very thorough look at the situation with the tile on the left wing and we have no concerns whatsoever. We haven't changed anything with respect to our trajectory design. It will be a nominal, standard trajectory."

1436 GMT (9:36 a.m. EST)

NASA is asking that any persons finding debris should stay clear given the hazardous nature of the materials and alert local authorities.

1435 GMT (9:35 a.m. EST)

The last voice communications from the crew involved a tire pressure message. Communications were then garbled and static. Contact with the shuttle was lost at about 9 a.m. EST.

1429 GMT (9:29 a.m. EST)

Search and rescue forces are now being deployed, NASA says.

1427 GMT (9:27 a.m. EST)

NASA says the shuttle was about 200,000 feet up and traveling at 12,500 miles per hour when contact was lost.

From all the reports we're receiving, it is becoming clear that the shuttle broke apart over Texas.

1419 GMT (9:19 a.m. EST)

Contingency plans are in effect in Mission Control.

1416 GMT (9:16 a.m. EST)

This was the time of Columbia's landing. What we know is contact was lost with the shuttle at about 9 a.m. EST and a sighting by residents in Texas reported a debris cloud following the plasma trail as Columbia streaked overhead.

1415 GMT (9:15 a.m. EST)

The flight dynamics officer reports there is no tracking of the shuttle.

1414 GMT (9:14 a.m. EST)

Entry Flight Director Leroy Cain has instructed flight controllers to get out their contingency plan.

1410 GMT (9:10 a.m. EST)

NASA is still seeking tracking data. Communications with the shuttle were lost about 10 minutes ago.

1409 GMT (9:09 a.m. EST)

Still no contact with Columbia or crew.

1406 GMT (9:06 a.m. EST)

Mission Control waiting for C-band tracking data and UHF communications with Columbia through MILA. Houston lost communications with the shuttle a few minutes ago over Texas. We have gotten reports of debris in the sky.

1405 GMT (9:05 a.m. EST)

THERE HAS BEEN NO COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE SHUTTLE. Mission Controllers waiting for tracking data from the Merritt Island station.

1404 GMT (9:04 a.m. EST)

We're getting reports from Texas of debris behind the shuttle's plasma trail during reentery.

1401 GMT (9:01 a.m. EST)

Columbia is out of communications with flight controllers in Houston. Now 15 minutes from landing time.

1359 GMT (8:59 a.m. EST)

At an altitude of 40 miles, shuttle Columbia has entered Texas.

444 posted on 02/01/2003 7:00:46 AM PST by davidosborne (www.davidosborne.net)
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To: GRRRRR
My God. This is horible.My prayers are with the families of these astronauts.

Though I have no evidence, my personal opinion is that this is a case of sabotage. Specifically terrorism.
The fact that the first Israeli astronaut was aboard is too telling and is not a coincidence.

I hope that it wasn't, but if it was, I hope for solid evidence to be found to prove it.

445 posted on 02/01/2003 7:00:54 AM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts (®)
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To: rface
I'm thinking some tiles fell off.
A guy on cbs was just saying that on an earlier flight some debrie(sp) from the external fuel tanks hit the leading edges of the left wing. something like this could cause severe stress on that wing.
446 posted on 02/01/2003 7:01:13 AM PST by Valin (Age and deceit beat youth and skill)
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To: 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!

Worth repeating!!! Onward and upward!!

447 posted on 02/01/2003 7:01:34 AM PST by The South Park Republican
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To: snopercod
Well, the downtime after 51-L was 2 years...with rollout of STS-26 occured in the summer of 1988. 51-L occurred in January 1986.

NASA continuing to warn regarding debris field... no announcement yet on location of debris field.
448 posted on 02/01/2003 7:01:50 AM PST by bonesmccoy (Defeat the terrorists... Vaccinate!)
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To: Thane_Banquo
Yes, he was on board, but, why is he the most important one...

I wouldn't trade one of ours for 50,000 of theirs.
449 posted on 02/01/2003 7:01:54 AM PST by Guillermo (Sic 'Em)
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To: MadIvan
It's OK, Ivan. Dubya is up to it.

He's had a tough two years, no question.
450 posted on 02/01/2003 7:02:08 AM PST by You Dirty Rats
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To: The_Media_never_lie
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?

None of the crew were "tourists". They were trained mission specialists carrying on experiments on board, IIRC there were over 80 separate experiments on this mission.

451 posted on 02/01/2003 7:02:15 AM PST by TomB
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To: mewzilla
Why wouldn't they have aborted the launch?

They may not have known the extent of the damage until they were already orbiting, or not ever known how badly the shuttle was damaged at all.

452 posted on 02/01/2003 7:02:16 AM PST by Lazamataz (I have learned, over the years, to NEVER assume ANYTHING..)
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To: Libertina
Thanks CPAC Freepers ....The Glaswegian just called me at home with a heads up on this thread.
453 posted on 02/01/2003 7:02:28 AM PST by Katya
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To: GRRRRR
Looks like they are gone. My prayer for them:

If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Even there shall Thy hand lead me,
and Thy right hand shall hold me.

Psalm 139: 9-10

I hope we can lay off the tinfoil posts for at least awhile--thing like stinger missiles reaching 220,000 feet! and strange sightings of "military jets in the area by eyewitnesses." Time to pray for the families.

454 posted on 02/01/2003 7:02:29 AM PST by SkyPilot
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To: 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!

Worth repeating!
455 posted on 02/01/2003 7:02:32 AM PST by My back yard (God Bless them all, and prayers for the families.)
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To: Faraday
So true.....
456 posted on 02/01/2003 7:02:39 AM PST by anniegetyourgun
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To: iowaboy
"Is there any way this could be terrorism?"

I don't know. I was thinking of something using satelite technology. We may never know. Of course, terrorists usually like to take credit for their work, but they most certainly know there would be little glory in this kind of an attack because it seems it would be nearly impossible to prove or disprove. I think more likely we have just come to take for granted the safety of the space shuttle and forget just how many risk factors there actually are.

457 posted on 02/01/2003 7:02:39 AM PST by sweetliberty (Having the right to do a thing is not at all the same thing as being right in doing it)
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To: TomB
Do you know their names?
458 posted on 02/01/2003 7:02:44 AM PST by still lurking
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To: lonestar
I live in souteast and I heard a noise, not loud, that I thought was an explosion. Our windows rattled. Now I wonder if it was the shuttle. What I heard lasted for probably 10-15 seconds.

We heard it, too. My husband made me mute the TV, asking "What is THAT?" It was a rumble that lasted about 15 seconds and he decided it was a train, but I don't recall ever hearing that before. Gives me chills.

God be with their families.

459 posted on 02/01/2003 7:02:48 AM PST by Nita Nuprez
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To: The South Park Republican
January 28, 1986 from the Oval Office

Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd planned to speak to you tonight to report on the state of the Union, but the events of earlier today have led me to change those plans. Today is a day for mourning and remembering. Nancy and I are pained to the core by the tragedy of the shuttle Challenger. We know we share this pain with all of the people of our country. This is truly a national loss.

Nineteen years ago, almost to the day, we lost three astronauts in a terrible accident on the ground. But, we've never lost an astronaut in flight; we've never had a tragedy like this. And perhaps we've forgotten the courage it took for the crew of the shuttle; but they, the Challenger Seven, were aware of the dangers, but overcame them and did their jobs brilliantly. We mourn seven heroes: Michael Smith, Dick Scobee, Judith Resnik, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Gregory Jarvis, and Christa McAuliffe. We mourn their loss as a nation together.

For the families of the seven, we cannot bear, as you do, the full impact of this tragedy. But we feel the loss, and we're thinking about you so very much. Your loved ones were daring and brave, and they had that special grace, that special spirit that says, 'Give me a challenge and I'll meet it with joy.' They had a hunger to explore the universe and discover its truths. They wished to serve, and they did. They served all of us.

We've grown used to wonders in this century. It's hard to dazzle us. But for twenty-five years the United States space program has been doing just that. We've grown used to the idea of space, and perhaps we forget that we've only just begun. We're still pioneers. They, the members of the Challenger crew, were pioneers.

And I want to say something to the schoolchildren of America who were watching the live coverage of the shuttle's takeoff. I know it is hard to understand, but sometimes painful things like this happen. It's all part of the process of exploration and discovery. It's all part of taking a chance and expanding man's horizons. The future doesn't belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave. The Challenger crew was pulling us into the future, and we'll continue to follow them...

There's a coincidence today. On this day 390 years ago, the great explorer Sir Francis Drake died aboard ship off the coast of Panama. In his lifetime the great frontiers were the oceans, and a historian later said, 'He lived by the sea, died on it, and was buried in it.' Well, today we can say of the Challenger crew: Their dedication was, like Drake's, complete.

The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for the journey and waved goodbye and 'slipped the surly bonds of earth' to 'touch the face of God.'

460 posted on 02/01/2003 7:03:02 AM PST by Wyatt's Torch
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