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.

[Thane_Banquo]

Does anyone know if they give the astronauts parachutes?

Wouldn't make much sense at that altitude and speed. Even if you could survive the lack of oxygen (assuming an oxygen tank), you'd still be bailing out at 3 times the speed of sound.

[bonesmccoy]

There is a city called Palestine Texas... it appears on the groundtrack.

[KneelBeforeZod]

looks bad. debris burning up over texas on video

[RichardW]

CNN is reporting it exploded over Palestine, Texas. This is where I live. I knew something was happening but had no idea at the time.

[JohnHuang2]

Backatya, friend. Very, very sad day.

[AStack75]

It appears to have burned up on re-entry.

[bonesmccoy]

Yes they do have chutes...but there is no way the chutes could be used at 12,000 mph.

[dawn53]

Palestine, Texas

That's freaky! First Israeli on board and it comes down near Palestine Texas, WOW.

No tinfoil alert, you couldn't plan that.

[MadIvan]

It happened just now, apparently. I'm watching the headlines on the BBC News site as I sit here.

Regards, Ivan

[Indy Pendance]

Does anyone know who was on this flight?

[Peach]

This is a very sad day.

[Guenevere]

FWIW...My husband is an Aerospace Engineer......we just heard this a few moments ago....his first words..."they're gone"...

[Moonman62]

The last voice communications from the crew involved a tire pressure message. Communications were then garbled and static. Contact with the shuttle was lost at about 9 a.m. EST.

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts107/status.html

[mikegi]

Multiple pieces, man. Multiple pieces. I'm gonna be sick. Could have been too much heat, too much pressure on the airframe, we may never know.

NBC has a better video of this than CNN. A few small pieces break off then the orbiter breaks into two large chunks. Sickening.

[anniegetyourgun]

And the one thing that's gonna make me vomit faster is the thought of celebrations going on in the other Palestine right now.

[Wondervixen]

God be with the crew and if this was terrorist oriented, let's go after the bastards RIGHT NOW!!!

And the Hollyweirdo's and peaceniks better be watching their mouths!!!

[FITZ]

That must be very difficult ---to have known them and now this.

[Maedhros]

Alright everyone. I realize now that parachutes wouldn't have helped. Thanks for the info. You can stop telling me now. Seriously.

[Merovingian]

CNN has the superior coverage.......