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.

[Texas_Jarhead]

511 doesn't make any sense. you don't just throw life away.

[af_vet_rr]

I predict a Russian Soyuz will be launched within days to remove the ISS crew. Don't look for any shuttle flights for a long time. The review boards will be endless.

I'm sure the Congressional one (and you know there will be one) will be dragged out until summer of next year, just in time for the next elections. There are some scumbags who would do it.

[Pharmboy]

One possibility: one wing was damaged on take-off, but they determined at the time that it was not dangerous.

[McGruff]

During a mission status news conference yesterday, Entry Flight Director Leroy Cain was asked about any possible damage to the shuttle's thermal tiles during launch. The tiles are what protect the shuttle during the fiery reentry into Earth's atmosphere.

Tracking video of launch shows what appears to be a piece of foam insulation from the shuttle's external tank falling away during ascent and hitting the shuttle's left wing near its leading edge.

But Cain said engineers "took a very thorough look at the situation with the tile on the left wing and we have no concerns whatsoever. We haven't changed anything with respect to our trajectory design. It will be a nominal, standard trajectory."

[veronica]

A press conference onboard the space shuttle Columbia last week. (Photo: Reuters)

[Jim Noble]

>>We should launch no matter how dangerous it is.<<

We should acquire proper spacefaring capability, no matter how expensive it is.

There is no reason to persist with the thirty year old endproduct of bad design, bad engineering, and criminally negligent budgeting.

[WhirlwindAttack]

My first thought, regrettably is sabotage.

I just said the same thing to my wife.

[ostephani]

At about that time, we heard something that sounded like our outer door slamming shut. Our dog went nuts too. My husband is gone, and I thought maybe he came home unexpectedly--no way he could have. We got scared. No doors were opened and all were locked.

We're in Elm Mott, just north of Waco. Certainly we couldn't have felt something too?

[sweetliberty]

"Jim Lovell (Apollo 13) on Sky News - says it could be an explosion rather than a breakup in flight"

But even if that were the case, wouldn't that also be a possible eventuality that could occur given the conditions that exist on re-entry? Also, many people locally are reporting what sounded like an explosion.

[Lancey Howard]

Not good.
My prayers go out to the families.
What a terrible shame.

[Notwithstanding]

Interesting link:


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/833929/posts

[DoughtyOne]

'

On behalf of posters on Free Republic, I post this with deepest sympathy for the crew and their families.

Mission - sts107

[SpookBrat]

I live just a few minutes from the ocean.

[Smile-n-Win]

Remember the enormous celebrations in Israel when Columbia took off? It will be very sad to see the reaction both in Lsrael and the Islamic countries after this disaster.

Sad indeed. And sickening.

[brooklin]

12,500 mph... YOU DON'T JUMP AT THAT SPEED OR HEIGHT.

[Constitution Day]

Thanks D1.

[jern]

wow didn't realize someone from Israel was on the flight

[MadIvan]

I don't feel qualified to comment, I'm not a space engineer. What Sky is saying now is that they are watching the wire news from Texas - there seems to be a universal description of an explosion.

Regards, Ivan

[geege]

NASA needs to retire the Shuttle........God Bless

[savedbygrace]

FWIW, Clara is a little east of Oklahoma City.