[Stefan Stackhouse]

The local cops came and bagged and removed the smaller pieces and covered the heavier pieces with heavy paper and told them to keep them covered until NASA comes to collect it. (Who knows how long this may take?)

Even the local LEOs should not be removing ANY debris until it can be properly phtographed and cataloged with GPS coordinates. When the debris is being reconstructed, they will need to plot trajectories backwards of each and every piece so that they can figure out what broke apart when. Please tell them to just flag the pieces and LEAVE THEM BE!

[pitinkie]

I am so sick of CNN....3 times in a half hour talking about Arafat's statement of condolence...Anderson Cooper "Any response from the White House on this??" WHO CARES!!!!!!!!!!!

[Diddle E. Squat]

Even the local LEOs should not be removing ANY debris until it can be properly phtographed and cataloged with GPS coordinates. When the debris is being reconstructed, they will need to plot trajectories backwards of each and every piece so that they can figure out what broke apart when. Please tell them to just flag the pieces and LEAVE THEM BE!

Boy, aren't you just the know-it-all on all these threads. Obviously you should have given the news conference and coordinated the cleanup. Heck, we should have had you in charge of Columbia, then it wouldn't have crashed. And now I guess you can get your trial lawyer buddy to analyze my thread, find the weak points, and sue me.

[Darksheare]

The local LEO's probably, ghoulishly, took the smaller pieces as souveniers.

[lodwick]

Good point, but I'm just reporting what happened this morning. Perhaps the local LEO's were directed to do this?

SIL also reported that several local residents picked up/touched/fondled the debris and are now in local hospitals with G*d knows what complications.

Another thought - what about the wildlife that will come into contact with the debris?

Man oh man. What a mess.