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.

[Maedhros]

NASA Mission Control lost contact with the space shuttle Columbia on re-entry circa 9:00 AM EST. Apparently it broke up at 200,000 feet elevation traveling at Mach 6 over Dallas. Witnesses heard a rumble or a boom, and there is a video showing multiple contrails and disentegration.

[Movemout]

"What I find incredible is that apparently no one can say how long the shuttles were intended to last in the first place. "

The shuttles have exceeded the "first place" design life expectations. The question has been evaluated more than once in recent years. The airframe has been judged to be more robust than originally thought. The "guts" have been almost continually upgraded over the years to take advantage of technology improvements. Alas, perfection is still out of reach.

[valleygal]

Well, link didn't work. I'll just put in the url.

[txdoda]

Is there any news yet about people on the ground, in the path of the debris?>>>>>>>

No ground injuries that I've heard of, some saying, debris, could be, from here to LA border, that's about 150 miles from here.

[The South Park Republican]

I understand and respect your opinion.

[dep]

For those of us who have worked in the space business, for those who know any of the crew members, fellow astronauts, or their friends and families, and for anyone who has ever been inspired by the US manned space program, this is a terrible day. I can only hope we have the national fortitude to recover from this and develop a follow on program that will be properly funded and maintained to provide safe access to space in the future.

I cannot disagree with any of this.

absolutely right. unfortunately, that means that contractors need to be a lot more sober about things and that the government be a lot more sober about trying to pork barrel it. this might, too, be a good time to take a look at what our goals are in space exploration. we should have had a permanent presence on the moon by now, but instead we have this ridiculous affection for low earth orbit. this is a time when we can decide to do it right, or we can order a truckload of duct tape.

dep

[HiJinx]

We've lost the space shuttle Columbia, it broke up over Dallas and has come down in pieces between there and Louisiana.

President Bush has called a Domestic Emergency Meeting in D.C. to respond to the disaster.

You're going to have some interesting DOSE threads for several days, I'm sorry to say.

HJ

[bonesmccoy]

You're quite welcome... I'm not a shuttle engineer, but I love the challenge of spaceflight.

When accidents and losses happen like this, it hurts badly...doesn't it?

Tell Freepers in TX and OK to look out for sorties by recon aircraft.

[Lazamataz]

Worked late...slept late, just clicked on. Turning on the TV and will read the thread....OMG!

Yeah, bro. 2002 started to great and ended so bad. Now 2003 is starting so bad, and I'm hoping it ends much better.

[July 4th]

Russian rockets go back and forth frequently, plus, I understand that there's a Soyuz lifeboat that can evac 3 people to ground if necessary.

[I got the rope]

It's just a darn shame that the US taxpayers wouldn't spring for the CRV [Crew Rescue Vehicle].

How is this our fault? Put the blame on the people who are running the show. Not us. your statement is asinine.

[Magnum44]

I hope you are wrong.

I wish I believed differently, but I am too pragmatic. It will take a national will like the space program has not seen since the Apollo days to overcome this. With national priorities so focused on war, and rightly so, at the moment, I fear that NASA manned space will take back seat for the near future.

It is an opportunity to reinvigorate the aerospace industry in this country. But the question is really a political one, do we have the political will to spend the enormous capital it will take to revive the program.

[VadeRetro]

What about the pilot module? Could it survive breakup at 200,000 feet and Mach25?

Apparently it's only going Mach 7 or so by the time you're down to 200K feet. Doesn't matter. It would have to be a lot slower than that and it isn't. You're a meteor, and the thickest part of the atmosphere is still below. When those tiles are gone from around you, you're going to burn.

[Sally'sConcerns]

Thanks, the reason I was asking is I was having a discussion on another board and they were stating the engines wouldn't be on at anytime during re-entry and there would be limited fuel.

[CELTICGAEL (Celt)]

It's OK my friend. I understand!

[KC_for_Freedom]

Yes, I agree, they will use finer grids and see things that they have not previously noted. We will probably hear more about the damage because there were ways to inspect it even without egress. (satellite imagery)

[cajungirl]

Thank for that post on the Israeli,,he is truly a hero, thank god Israel bombed that reactor.

[bonesmccoy]

The report was totally bogus and CNN wasted airtime on that lark. The story makes no sense.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Actually, I'm wrong. The chase planes are T-38 Talons....not T5s.

[operation clinton cleanup]

The media didn't even cover the Challenger launch until they found out it had blown up.

Actually they did, I watched the launch live on CNN.