Orbiting supercameras aid search for shuttle debris

Washington Times ^ | 2/05/03 | Bill Gertz

[kattracks]

U.S. spy satellites are taking high-resolution photographs to help locate debris from the Space Shuttle Columbia, Defense Department officials said yesterday.

The images of the doomed spacecraft's flight path are being used by the National Aeronautical and Space Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to pinpoint pieces of the shuttle that disintegrated when returning from space Saturday, said Defense officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

[First_Salute]

Bump.

[ImphClinton]

Good use of this technology.

[philman_36]

Well, all the hog runs are now mapped.

[Bronco_Buster_FweetHyagh]

It would have been nice if they had bothered using all of this technology to examine the wing and underbelly.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Where could a big enough piece for the satellite to see go, and still be missed by ground search crews?

[Captain Beyond]

Alright!! Now we will start getting some where fast.

[timestax]

Where could a big enough piece for the satellite to see go, and still be missed by ground search crews? 6 posted on 02/05/2003 1:07 AM PST by HiTech RedNeck [

Answer..to OJ Simpsons' house!

[Fitzcarraldo]

Shuttle debris (i.e. tiles) has a different thermal inertia profile than surrounding terrain and might stick out like a sore thumb at various wavelenghts.

Tiles have low thermal conductivity, therefore would tend to retain heat.

[timestax]

bump