Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Ten Years Later: The Impact of The Tragic Columbia Space Shuttle Photo
petapixel.com ^ | Feb 03, 2013 | DL Cade

Posted on 02/04/2013 11:34:30 AM PST by a fool in paradise

Ten Years Later: The Impact of The Tragic Columbia Space Shuttle Photo columbiadisaster

Two days ago marked the 10th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, in which 7 astronauts lost their lives during reentry as the rest of us watched horror-struck from the ground. The following day, newspapers the world over were announcing the tragic news, all of them using the same photo taken, not by a prolific AP photographer, but a cardiologist and his 6.3MP Canon D60.

At the time, Dr. Scott Lieberman had to order the camera special from Canada (as he couldn’t find one in the US), paying the hefty sum of $2,200. In an interesting article on Poynter, Lieberman discusses that fateful picture and the freelance photography career it has led to.

The photo, however, seems to have had a much broader impact than just launching Lieberman’s freelance career:

When Lieberman’s Columbia image ran on the cover of Time, the photojournalism establishment still regarded digital photography with a slightly wary eye … Irby says Lieberman’s photograph did ‘contribute to the strong validation in the potential and power of digital photography for real time news coverage.’

In addition to validating digital photography as a newsworthy medium, the fact that Lieberman spends the majority of his working hours at his interventional cardiology practice also had an impact. The photo is one of a few that marks the beginning of citizen photojournalism. Sadly, many believe those photos also mark the end of many a professional photojournalist’s career.

To get the full story behind this and the hundreds of AP photos Lieberman has taken since, check out the full article on Poynter.

Texas doctor who captured iconic image of Columbia disaster is now a working photographer [Poynter via The Verge]


Image credits: Photo courtesy of Newseum


TOPICS: Arts/Photography; Astronomy; History; Science
KEYWORDS: anniversary; columbia; nasa; spaceshuttle
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-29 last
To: IamConservative

Ugly but true. They had no way in the world to repair the damage they KNEW existed but could only silently hope and pray that the crew could beat the odds.


21 posted on 02/04/2013 12:46:06 PM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts (Here once the embattled farmers stood... And fired the shot heard round the world.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: RFEngineer
It mostly occured to me how this guy couldn’t polish the moon boots of an astronaut like Neil Armstrong

Remember, he was in the same training group as the Pampers Lady, if I'm not mistaken.

22 posted on 02/04/2013 1:07:50 PM PST by wideawake
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: RFEngineer

I wonder if part of the problem at NASA may be that not all of the useful data and technical folks are gone YET.

Technology has changed dramatically over the years, and if you’re stuck with a bunch of 70-year-old engineers who rightfully hold their own intelligence in very high regard, it might be difficult to persuade them that you don’t have to build a rocket engine as a finely-crafted work of art anymore thanks to technology and materials advancement.


23 posted on 02/04/2013 1:20:46 PM PST by mvpel (Michael Pelletier)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: plain talk; BuckeyeTexan

It’s not that incredible.

I saw Columbia’s remnants from a parking lot in North Austin (TX) on the way to a funeral for a guy who collected NASA memorabilia.

He actually had a blow-up shuttle at the grave site. 8o


24 posted on 02/04/2013 1:37:12 PM PST by WCH
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Bloody Sam Roberts

The only solace I find in that is the crew died instantly. Not so for Challenger’s crew.


25 posted on 02/04/2013 1:49:56 PM PST by BuckeyeTexan (There are those that break and bend. I'm the other kind.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: IamConservative
I read an account last week claiming that Mission Control knew there was a strong likelihood the shuttle would break up on re-entry as they had photos of the damage to the heat shield. They didn’t tell the crew so they would enjoy the flight.

This doesn't make sense since they would undoubtedly have tried to get some better pictures which would have been taken by the astronauts themselves. Also the space shuttle could have stayed in orbit while they dispatched another shuttle or rocket with some repair materials. Or, if they were running out of supplies, they could have transferred the crew to the International Space Station.

The problem was that NASA talked themselves out of the need to investigate the potential damage more thoroughly.

26 posted on 02/04/2013 1:57:29 PM PST by wideminded
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: WCH

The coincidence itself might not be incredible to you, but I can say with absolute certainty that both explosions were incredible to behold. I’d rather not have those images burned into memory.


27 posted on 02/04/2013 2:04:03 PM PST by BuckeyeTexan (There are those that break and bend. I'm the other kind.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: BuckeyeTexan

I completely understand.

I saw Challenger on TV and that was plenty.


28 posted on 02/04/2013 2:07:27 PM PST by WCH
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Riley; BuckeyeTexan
The first(Columbia)shuttle landing(April 14, 1981?)was crazy. Went there after work the night before the landing. People were everywhere...it was pitch black and I remember literally stepping on folks that were crashed out in their sleeping bags...took forever to get out of the place...but had a good time nonetheless.

Reagan days...pride/patriotism...

...sure have lost a lot since : (

At that time I worked for a couple different aerospace mfg. firms, got to go to the Downey(?)facility where they had the mock-up shuttle, exhibits, etc. Remember receiving a letter from one of those firms I worked for, apparently one of our divisions manufactured the o-rings for the SRB.

29 posted on 02/04/2013 3:13:49 PM PST by RckyRaCoCo (Shall Not Be Infringed)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-29 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson