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Shuttle explodes Over Texas
USA TODAY ^ | 2/01/03 | AP

Posted on 02/01/2003 6:56:54 AM PST by kattracks

Edited on 04/13/2004 1:40:20 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

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To: holymoly
Normal eject like out-of-plane no, but do they have small escape capsules or something..
21 posted on 02/01/2003 7:04:17 AM PST by Jalapeno
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To: Jalapeno
Egress would occur at about 20,000 feet under ideal conditions. The crew had no chance of escaping the vehicle at this speed and altitude.
22 posted on 02/01/2003 7:05:36 AM PST by SMEDLEYBUTLER
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To: Michael81Dus
Its not just the US and Israel that are suffering. The civilized world suffers. Including Arabs?
23 posted on 02/01/2003 7:05:46 AM PST by SF Geo
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To: Jalapeno
Not in the shuttle. No escape pod, etc. They talked about it after Challenger, but...
24 posted on 02/01/2003 7:06:00 AM PST by holymoly
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Warnings From NASA on Falling Debris; Bush Calls Meeting

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA declared an emergency after losing communication with space shuttle Columbia as the ship soared over Texas several minutes before its expected landing time Saturday morning.

Fearing the worst, NASA ordered flight controllers to pull out emergency procedures and ordered them to retain all their records.

Columbia was aiming for a touch down at 9:16 a.m.

It was at an altitude of 200,700 feet, traveling at 12,500 mph when mission control lost contact. There was no further communication and no further tracking data.

Reporters at the landing strip were ordered away 7 minutes after the scheduled touchdown with still no sign of the shuttle.

Inside Mission Control, flight controller hovered in front of their computers, staring at the screens. The wives, husbands and children of the astronauts who had been waiting at the landing strip were gathered together by NASA and taken to separate place.

Columbia was at an altitude of 200,700 feet over north-central Texas at a 9 a.m., traveling at 12,500 mph when mission control lost contact and tracking data.

NASA, while not saying the shuttle had exploded, broken up or crashed, warned that any debris found in the area should be avoided and could be hazardous.

In 42 years of human space flight, NASA has never lost a space crew during landing or the ride back to orbit. In 1986, space shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after liftoff.

Security had been tight for the 16-day scientific research mission that included the first Israeli astronaut.

Ilan Ramon, a colonel in Israel's air force and former fighter pilot, became the first man from his country to fly in space, and his presence resulted in an increase in security, not only for Columbia's Jan. 16 launch, but also for its landing. Space agency officials feared his presence might make the shuttle more of a terrorist target.

On launch day, a piece of insulating foam on the external fuel tank came off during liftoff and was believed to have struck the left wing of the shuttle. NASA said as late as Friday that the damage to the thermal tiles was believed to be minor and posed no safety concern during the fiery decent through the atmosphere.


25 posted on 02/01/2003 7:06:18 AM PST by kattracks
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To: kattracks
Brother in law has reported possible debris in Humble and Fort Bend co. and also on Richmond Ave.
26 posted on 02/01/2003 7:06:55 AM PST by Double Tap
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To: Jalapeno
what are the emergency procedures at that time in the landing....is there some way they could of ejected?

According to someone from NASA speaking on CNN there was no possiblity (or means) to eject specifically because of altitude and speed.

27 posted on 02/01/2003 7:07:03 AM PST by BunnySlippers
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To: kattracks
'

On behalf of posters on Free Republic, I post this with deepest sympathy for the crew and their families.

Mission - sts107


28 posted on 02/01/2003 7:07:09 AM PST by DoughtyOne
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To: Jalapeno
The crew must make their way to the hatch and bail out. No escape pod or capsule.
29 posted on 02/01/2003 7:07:21 AM PST by SMEDLEYBUTLER
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To: Mr. Mulliner
So much hatred in them will at least cause some stupid celebrations in the middle east. yes and how long will it be before hilary tells us this is Bush's fault!
30 posted on 02/01/2003 7:07:26 AM PST by Free_at_last_-2001
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To: SF Geo
Lets see how the muslim world reacts. Are they part of the human race or not? If Saddy says its great an Israeli died let's not way til March to get him

They may take "credit" of course, but more likely they'll say that Allah did it. Not only was there an Israeli on board, but the shuttle landed in Palestine Texas. To Islamists, that's likely to seem a pretty clear message from God.

31 posted on 02/01/2003 7:08:09 AM PST by DWPittelli
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To: Free_at_last_-2001
God Bless Them.
32 posted on 02/01/2003 7:08:46 AM PST by SF Geo
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To: SF Geo
I´m not sure. I hope for them and us that the Arab world will feel sorrow for that tragedy, too.

33 posted on 02/01/2003 7:08:47 AM PST by Michael81Dus (Proud to be German, but not to be represented by Gerhard Schröder)
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To: kattracks


34 posted on 02/01/2003 7:08:57 AM PST by Diogenesis
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To: DWPittelli
Not much chance of terrorism at 200,000 feet
35 posted on 02/01/2003 7:09:20 AM PST by AppyPappy (Will Code COBOL For Food)
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To: Double Tap
I live 150 miles Northeast of Houston. The flight path would have been almost over head. Shortly after 8 am I heard what sounded like rolling thunder and the windows shook. I raised a window to try to hear better and determine what I heard because it was a strange noise.

It was similar to what I remember hearing as a child the day Texas City blew up and the windows in my school shook.

My cousins who live north of Dallas heard a very loud boom and their dogs went crazy.

36 posted on 02/01/2003 7:09:42 AM PST by lonestar ((Nelson Mandela has a thinking problem))
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To: kattracks
may god welcome them home ...
37 posted on 02/01/2003 7:10:11 AM PST by tomkat
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To: lonestar
Probably sonic booms, not explosions
38 posted on 02/01/2003 7:10:31 AM PST by Jalapeno
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To: kattracks
From MSN... "On launch day, a piece of insulating foam on the external fuel tank came off during liftoff and was believed to have struck the left wing of the shuttle. Leroy Cain, the lead flight director in Mission Control, had assured reporters Friday that engineers had concluded that any damage to the wing was considered minor and posed no safety hazard. "

Their decision not to abort before reaching orbit will be debated for a long time.

39 posted on 02/01/2003 7:10:41 AM PST by Tax Government
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To: Mr. Mulliner
stupid celebrations in the middle east.

Mrs. Bat and I were discussing just this scenario, as well as speculating whether or not our media would report it....my guess is "not"

40 posted on 02/01/2003 7:11:19 AM PST by ErnBatavia ((Bumperootus!))
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