NASA STATEMENT ON LOSS OF COMMUNICATIONS WITH COLUMBIA

NASA ^ | 2/1/03 | NASA

[AStack75]

NASA STATEMENT ON LOSS OF COMMUNICATIONS WITH COLUMBIA

A Space Shuttle contingency has been declared in Mission Control, Houston, as a result of the loss of communication with the Space Shuttle Columbia at approximately 9 a.m. EST Saturday as it descended toward a landing at the Kennedy Space Center, Fla. It was scheduled to touchdown at 9:16 a.m. EST.

Communication and tracking of the shuttle was lost at 9 a.m. EST at an altitude of about 203,000 feet in the area above north central Texas. At the time communications were lost. The shuttle was traveling approximately 12,500 miles per hour (Mach 18). No communication and tracking information were received in Mission Control after that time.

Search and rescue teams in the Dallas-Fort Worth and in portions of East Texas have been alerted. Any debris that is located in the area that may be related to the Space Shuttle contingency should be avoided and may be hazardous as a result of toxic propellants used aboard the shuttle. The location of any possible debris should immediately be reported to local authorities.

Flight controllers in Mission Control have secured all information, notes and data pertinent to today's entry and landing by Space Shuttle Columbia and continue to methodically proceed through contingency plans.

News media covering the Space Shuttle should stay tuned to NASA Television, which is broadcast on AMC-2, transponder 9C, C-Band, located at 85 degrees West longitude. The frequency is 3880.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical and audio is monaural at 6.8 MHz. Reporters can also go to any NASA center newsroom to monitor the situation.

New information, including the times and locations of press briefings, will be posted to this page.

NASA Home Page

[P-Marlowe]

Yes, but something caused that to happen, and losing temp sensors had to be cause for alarm just prior to breakup.

They were pressure sensors, not heat sensors. The excessive heat probably destroyed the pressure sensors before the tires blew.

[vger]

When Columbia was launched on its maiden flight, I had just purchased one of the first VCRs available to the public. I taped about 6 hours of pre-flight coverage and then the launch. I'll never forget how brave Crippen and Young were, being the first astronauts to fly an unflown rocket design into space. Back then shuttle launches were covered for hours by the three main networks and (and channel 11 KTTV Fox of course). I am very saddened by today's tragic loss. God bless the brave crew of Columbia.

[DoughtyOne]

Here is a screen saver I made this morning.  It is sized 800x600 and 1024x768.
Right click down download for 800 x 600.
Left click, then right click download for 1024x768.

[cardinal4]

203,000 ft moving at 12,500. It was over DFW when it broke apart. It was 16 minutes from touchdown in Florida. Think about that for a minute. The sheer mechanics of slowing something moving that fast at the same time its descending, in such a short distance (Lets face it, that high that fast,makes the distance between Dallas and the Florida coast seem relative)is absolutley mind boggling to me. I hope it was over quick.

[Joe Hadenuf]

I am confident that it was. Remember, they at least were doing what they loved to do. This is the only bright spot in this day. They were pioneers and will be remembered as such.

Very, very sad day indeed.

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

Cool pict...