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.

[snopercod]

Do you suppose the President was tempted to announce, "We have evidence that the Shuttle was sabotaged by an Al-Queda operative"?

Our previous president wouldn't have been above doing that to build support for a war.

[Alberta's Child]

Aside form the human element of a disaster like this, one of the things I've determined over the years is that manned space travel has been one of the worst "investments" the U.S. has ever made. While I agree that there is some value to what is being accomplished in space, I think the "return" on this enormous investment has been unacceptably small.

[Alberta's Child]

Thanks. I wanted to make sure I wasn't just seeing things.

[sweetliberty]

I saw that and expressed my sentiments about these animals. No, I take that back. Animals have more respect. Thank you for the post.

[The South Park Republican]

I saluted them smartly

You should be proud of the fact that you can simply "salute smartly". I haven't the foggiest of how to do it. Nor would I respect you guys by trying. I envy you.

Long Cut...Are you missing all this? I thought of you when making this post.

[FITZ]

We need to explore, it's part of who we are.

We could explore with robots.

[Publius6961]

about what ime was that shown?
I may have recorded it.

[tomkat]

true ...

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Would that indicate that the explosion actually happened BEFORE the video footage we've been seeing? Indicating that it happened during the hi-temp re-entry?

I have yet to see any video with sound attached. People did not hear the sound and rush out with their cameras. All shuttles return over North Texas and people watch for them to come down and video the event on a routine bases. Because of that we will get lots of film over the next few days.

[Tree of Liberty]

Tony Snow reported a few hours ago that "grizzly" items had been discovered.

[admiralsn]

bump

[The South Park Republican]

We could explore with robots.

I go back to the fact that people CLIMB over one-another to perform these missions. And the fact that I would jump on a space shuttle tomorrow. And like to think, that if given the time, right before dying like the astronauts did today, would say to myself: "Well...It's been a hell of a ride and well-worth the price".

I don't have what it takes to go through becomming an astronaut. Those who do are better people than me. And THEY build a better America. No robot can build anything like that.

[Jhoffa_]

If you look at it like an investment, the return has been pretty small.

I look at it (as Poobah said) like a mandate.

Exploration is part of who we are and has facinated men since the beginning of time. We are going to grouse and argue about it till we finally just go, have a look and settle it once and for all.

(Maybe it's just a "guy thing" Men love to explore.)

[conservativemusician]

They won't be celebrating long.

[FITZ]

I partially agree ---I can see sending robots out there if we want to analyze the soil on Mars for whatever reason we would want to do that, or monkeys like we used to. I don't think there's that much point in sending humans and risking this kind of tragedy. To be honest, I didn't even know there was a manned space shuttle coming in until I read on here it didn't arrive. I feel bad for the people and their families, but I don't even know the purpose of their mission.

[Kip Lange]

While I agree that there is some value to what is being accomplished in space, I think the "return" on this enormous investment has been unacceptably small.

Investment? Space flight is a realization of human potential. Exploration, and sacrifice for exploration, is what human beings, and *specifically* Americans, are all about. We make no investment; we follow our nature; we follow our calling. There was a reason we moved out of mud huts in the first place. Obviously you'd rather still be in the hut. :-)

[Jhoffa_]

We could explore with robots.

And we do..

I still would hate to see the end of manned space exploration though. It would be like admitting failure and quitting.

Something we just don't normally do.

Wherever it's at, we haven't conquered it till there's a man standing on it.

[NormsRevenge]

The fellow looking at the piece of debris is wearing a Lockheed cap, if Im not mistaken. Maybe an oldtimer areonautical folk?

[W. W. SMITH]

DEBRIS HITTING WING ON LAUNCH

APU SUPPLIES POWER DURING LANDING

APU SPINS UP ON REENTRY

WHERE IS APU INTAKE?

LOSS OF SENSOR READINGS JUST BEFORE LOSS OF COMMUNICATIONS (LOSS OF POWER?)

LOSS OF TELEMETRY FROM LEFT WING BEFORE BREAKUP (AGAIN LOSS OF POWER?)

DEBRIS IN APU INTAKE?

ON SPIN UP OR SHORTLY AFTER, APU EXPLODES DAMAGING WING AND OR HEAT TILES?

RESULT...........LOSS OF SHUTTLE!

[Publius6961]

Surely, you meant "grisly"?