[Jorge]

The goal is to try to reconstruct what's left of Columbia, and establish a sequence of how each part peeled off during the shuttle's ill-fated journey home.

Clearly the further west parts are found, the more key they could be in determining the cause of the disaster...since these parts would have come off the shuttle first.

[spoiler2]

Consider how LUCKY we are, that Columbia along with it's noble occupants, came to rest on American soil, Texas no less, just a few miles from the place that gave it it's beginning.

If a shuttle were to break up over any other country, or the oceans, we would never have been this close, to carefully gather up the final remains of the crew and as much of the craft, as we have been able to. I dread to think of the abuses that would occur, in some unnamed land, by uncaring individuals, to these remains.

Seven families will have their loved one's remains to say a final goodbye to, and NASA's engineers will readily be able to examine the segments, hopefully being aided as they figure new ways to get us past these technical difficulties.

So, at this time, just take a moment to THANK THE LORD, for this small favor, that Columbia and it's crew have been returned so closely to us, without any further abuse.

[blam]

Were there any serious injuries from falling derbis?

[Lancey Howard]

bttt

[LibKill]

I know that area well. Thickly wooded, brushy undergrowth.

The searchers are doing a great job in difficult circumstances.

[Fzob]

[Lancey Howard]

Authorities confirmed about 15 sites where human remains have been found in the county, Kerss said, again declining to provide details.

Well, 15 sites, 7 astronauts - - I think it is a good idea to "decline to provide details".

[libsrscum]

Hmmm... it's HARD to find Shuttle evidence when we KNOW the ground track and everything landed on the surface of the earth. Footprint relatively small...

But...

it's EASY for the inspectors to find stuff in Iraq if we just give them more time. Never mind the stuff is buried and hidden in an area the size of California and they have to play the mind games with all the Iraqis at the sites...

just thinking out loud...

carry on...

[deport]

bump

[Fzob]

[Ramius]

Yikes... from the title I thought it was about LA (Los Angeles). Now *that* would be news.

[tubebender]

NASA shuttle program manager Ron Dittemore said NASA was particularly interested in any pieces that may have fallen from Columbia as far west as New Mexico, Arizona or California. The FBI was checking reports of possible debris in Arizona.

I heard Dittemore say that today and my first thought was the Grand Canyon. It would probably be eaiser to find the Lost Dutchman Mine than a 6X6 inch piece of tile. Can someone post a topo map of the flight path.

[Husker24]

Why is it in every other state a county is a county, but in Louisiana its a Parish?

[TigersEye]

bump

[Monty22]

The live recording of communications on spaceflightnow.com have basically given me nightmares. Lots of noise and static, but also human voices in there.

Awful, awful..