Shuttle Contact LOST-No Tracking Data During RE-Entry!

Nasa TV | 02/01/03 | GRRRR

[GRRRRR]

Shuttle has NOT been heard from or seen on tracking radar since 0800Hrs CDT. No contact at Merrit Island tracking station, no voice comm...DEVELOPING.

[DoughtyOne]

Please see post 1838 if you would like a screensaver of the Columbia crew. Thank you.

[RadioAstronomer]

What ever became of the Russian Shuttle? have they mothballed it? Would they be able to roll it out for use at the ISS or to augment the U.S. Shuttle till we can get another one built?

That is a program that cannot be resurrected.

[AppyPappy]

I imagine most of the large debris came off before the explosion. After the explosion, it is so much tragic confetti.

[RummyChick]

no, he was apoligizing for comments..he said they were inappropriate.

[Kip Lange]

Man will never give up on the dream of space exploration. *NEVER*.

[Man of the Right]

The Columbia looks like a '38 Studebaker that was used in a demolition derby. You couldn't get me on it drunk or sober.

[OReilly]

Am speechless

ALL of us feel the great loss... some (you can hear it in their voice) others in their posts, others just feel bad in their heart.

[AppyPappy]

I think you mean "background".

[CARepubGal]

FReepmail me too. I also want to donate for a flower arrangement.

[The Raven]

In 1981, Ramon was one of eight Israeli F-16 pilots who obliterated the French-built Osiraq reactor

I bet they were doing a little intelligence gathering up there.

[The South Park Republican]

Man will never give up on the dream of space exploration. *NEVER*.

BIG freaking NEVER Bump!!!

[txradioguy]

Ok I missed that part. I'm a channel surfing fool right now. It's the reporter coming out in me. Trying to get all the info I can, some of the little thigs fall throught he cracks. Thanks for keeping me on the straight and narrow.

[AppyPappy]

He read something off a bio. I didn't hear what he was but I heard the apology.

[prisoner6]

Actually the DU mod is pretty much in line with ours, facing similar problems and trying to keep th e thread focused on the tragedy. That alone is historic!

Out of respect for the AM request to squelch DU comments that is all I will say.

There's more afoot to take care of than worry about DU folks. Another thread is fine but this one should be for STS 107, IMO although I have no problem with the original references to DU comments.

prisoner6

[Milwaukee_Guy]

"Probably. The military will need it. I'm going to be cold about this. If they can't afford the PR, they shouldn't fly anyone but test pilots and military aviators."

Good point. The teachers in space gimmick was/is bad Kharma IMHO.

[joanil]

I think that may be a 'line sweep' of the radar.

[Robert A Cook PE]

No missile is credible.

200,000 feet up and 6,000 mph requires ABM technology. (And even our recent tests are only now getting close enough to go to phase 2 and consider deployment.

Internal sabatoge? (sp)

Certainly possible. Blow the tail or loosen a few tiles. Not likely, given the inspections going on on: those are white glove and fully smocked areas, almost impossible to get to without an inspector tagging along, or being caught by a later technician checking something else. (Nobody is going to "ignore" an "extra black box" stuffed haphazardly into the tail section or engine area.)

[Petronski]

What ever became of the Russian Shuttle? have they mothballed it? Would they be able to roll it out for use at the ISS or to augment the U.S. Shuttle till we can get another one built? That is a program that cannot be resurrected.

I strongly suspect the Soviets discovered something during the Buran test flights that turned them white with fear at what would happen if it actually flew with humans aboard.

[nicmarlo]

May God have mercy on the brave seven astronauts of Columbia.

A fitting FReeper name, OliveBranch....thank you for extending your sympathies and sharing your desire that we, each one of us, remember, we are ALL Americans and unite behind this, yet another, tragedy. May God be with our entire Country.