Replies

I about fell out of my chair when I logged on Saturday and saw that the thread about 'Commo problems with the Columbia during reentry(I forget the exact wording)' had hundreds of responses already attached to it. Even before the thread loaded I knew just by the amount of responses what had happened. Reviewing the play by play, catching up to speed, and then following it live just doesn't happen anywhere else.

Please change name in thread title to "Columbia," not "Challenger." Thanks in advance

Bump.

That is awesome.

congrats! I always say, I Freep, therefore I am. FR is the Best in The World. Back to reading :))

Free Republic scooped the AP by at least 11 minutes--which is an eternity in the competitive world of wire-service reporting.

FREE REPUBLIC=CUTTING EDGE

WhoooHoooo!!! We scooped the AP - what a hoot!!

congratulations leadpenny! and FR

EABinGA and others were tracking the Shuttle in the RadioFreeRepublic chatroom as it approached for a landing in real time. Here's a transcript of what happened:

[08:23:00] <@EABinGA> but from what it looks like, it will fly directly over your head

[08:23:23] <+carenot> Woah!

[08:24:28] <@EABinGA> in about 35-40 minutes

[08:24:54] <+carenot> I will look for it. Thanks.

[08:25:15] <@EABinGA> leaving australia now, heading towards the philipines

[08:25:48] <@EABinGA> i'll see if i can let you know, when to stick your head out the window :)

[08:26:10] <+carenot> LOL, Thanks!

[08:52:24] <@EABinGA> Approaching California

[08:53:18] <+carenot> Ok. Ijust went out and didn't see anything. Sky is very bright.

[08:53:27] <@EABinGA> not yet... i'll let you know

[08:53:37] <+carenot> Ok, thanks again

[08:53:37] <@EABinGA> just north of SF, calif. now

[08:54:32] <@EABinGA> it doesnt take you long to go outside does it? it is moving very fast

[08:55:03] <+carenot> About 15 seconds

[08:55:08] <+carenot> If that.

[08:55:51] <@EABinGA> north of las vegas now

[08:56:10] <@EABinGA> arizona

[08:56:30] <@EABinGA> entering new mexico

[08:56:41] <@EABinGA> looks like it will be to the north of you

[08:57:06] <@EABinGA> eproaching texas now

[08:57:26] <@EABinGA> probably will be in texas in about 2 minutes

[08:58:15] <@EABinGA> going from new mexico to luisiana in a straight line, entering texas now

[08:58:22] <@EABinGA> time to go outside

[08:58:29] <+carenot> Ok, going now!

[09:00:26] <@EABinGA> they lost tracking.....

[09:02:25] <@EABinGA> probably long gone now

[09:04:59] <@EABinGA> should be landing in 12 minutes

[09:05:32] <+carenot> Ok, back in

[09:05:38] <@EABinGA> nothing?

[09:05:40] <+carenot> It is cold out there

[09:06:07] * @EABinGA passes carenot a cup of hot tea

[09:06:16] <+carenot> No I didn't see or hear anything and now I have a stiff neck!

[09:06:26] <+carenot> Thanks, LOL

[09:06:26] <@EABinGA> :)

[09:06:46] <@EABinGA> they are trying to contact the shuttle....

[09:07:01] <+carenot> They lost it?

[09:07:12] <@EABinGA> yeah, over your house

[09:07:51] <@EABinGA> 8 minutes to landing

[09:07:55] <+carenot> How big is it? Maybe I better check the tornado cellar

[09:08:46] <@EABinGA> it wont fit in there :D

[09:08:52] <+carenot> Good

[09:09:34] <+carenot> Where is it supposed to land?

[09:09:38] <@EABinGA> i am surprised how calm the folks are at mission control.... they actually look bored

[09:09:41] <@EABinGA> florida

[09:09:59] <@EABinGA> still looking for the shuttle

[09:10:06] <@EABinGA> 6 more minutes

[09:10:35] <@EABinGA> lost contact about 10 minutes ago

[09:10:51] <+carenot> How in heck can they lose a shuttle? What about all the radar every where?

[09:11:40] <+carenot> My thinking

[09:11:48] <@EABinGA> 5 minutes

[09:12:53] <@EABinGA> 4 minutes and still no contact

[09:13:46] <@EABinGA> 3 minutes

[09:14:41] <@EABinGA> starting contingency procedures

[09:14:52] <@EABinGA> people are actually moving at mission control

[09:15:02] <@EABinGA> no radar contact

[09:15:04] <@EABinGA> 1 minute

[09:15:54] <+carenot> I can't believe they lost it!

[09:16:12] <@EABinGA> should have touched down by now

[09:17:06] <@EABinGA> look at FR

[09:17:11] <+carenot> OK

[09:17:19] <@EABinGA> 3 messages already posted

[09:17:06] <@EABinGA> look at FR

[09:17:11] <+carenot> OK

[09:17:19] <@EABinGA> 3 messages already posted

[09:17:37] * bigaln2 (trillian@TORN-32B687FB.netwurx.net) has joined #rfr

[09:17:38] * ChanServ sets mode: +v bigaln2

[09:19:13] <+carenot> They lost the shuttle!

[09:20:52] <+carenot> I wonder if it has been blow up and they are not telling us?

[09:21:37] <@EABinGA> i am watching NASA TV...

[09:22:20] <@EABinGA> you didnt see it blow up?

[09:22:35] <+carenot> I didn't see nuffin!

[09:23:02] * Scutter (Scutter@TORN-104DEC60.cmngga.adelphia.net) has joined #rfr

[09:23:03] * ChanServ sets mode: +v Scutter

[09:23:04] <@EABinGA> Last seen over Dallas.

[09:23:09] <+Scutter> Shit

[09:23:27] <+carenot> Fix my hat hat please Scutter.

[09:23:42] <@EABinGA> I am not lying about this. I live in Dallas. Right at the time it disappeared, we heard a large boom.

[09:23:46] <@EABinGA> from FR

[09:23:47] * +Scutter adjusts carenot's hat

[09:25:05] <+carenot> I saw that it was visible in Dallas on the tv. It showed a very long contrail

[09:26:27] <+carenot> Just said they are securing all records and data.

[09:28:21] <+bigaln2> What the hell happened to the shuttle?

[09:28:38] <+carenot> They lost it

[09:28:42] <+Scutter> don't know al, but it isn't looking good

[09:28:57] <+bigaln2> The pictures on CNN are quite damning

[09:29:10] <+Scutter> its gliding in for a landing, so its not like it can just float around up there indefinately

Free Republic scooped the AP by at least 11 minutes--which is an eternity in the competitive world of wire-service reporting.

I bookmarked this thread yesterday. Glad to see others noticed.

Free Republic is the best news and info source around.

There needs to be a book...

This is so great! My best source of news hands down is FReeRepublic. Make that news AND knowlege because of so many learned and knowlegeable people posting and commenting about so many things. I love reading here!

Prairie

Some Freepers had the heartbreaking experience of watching brave men and women die in real time while sharing their experience on FreeRepublic.

Maybe we should all tone down this "WoooHooo!!!" stuff.