Columbia Discussion thread

Feb 1, 2003

[Admin Moderator]

'

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

Mission - sts107

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This is a continuation of the original thread.

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

ANY DU LINKS OR POSTS WILL BE REMOVED IMMEDIATELY. Keep them on the original thread.

[RadioAstronomer]

OMG! Sorry! I got you mixed up with onother freeper!!

[lawdude]

"...the people in the Best Buy I was in this morning when the news broke just said, "Oh, that's bad," and went on about their shopping."

The sad fact is, there will be that many people killed in Texas road accidents today. While this incident is terrible and worthy of news, much of the hype is just that. I hope NASA can provide answers soon. Even though a large percentage of Freepers will poo-poo any report.

BTW, I worked on a portion of the electronics installed on the shuttle. Part of me died today also!

God be with the Astronauts and survivors.

[mommadooo3]

Amen.

[lainie]

With all due respect, hospitals deal with death and injury on a daily basis. NASA guys do not.

[CyberAnt]

Do you think that tile failure has any relation to the event occurring during liftoff where a piece of something hit the wing ..??

[ZDaphne]

From memory, by John Gillespie McGee, Jr.
"Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings.
Sunward I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sunsplit clouds, and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of.
Wheeled and soared and swung, high in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there, I've chased the shouting wind along and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious burning blue, I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace, where never lark, nor even eagle flew. While, with silent lifting mind, I've trod the untrespassed sanctity of space, put out my hand and touched the face of God."

[Dog]

I heard that a rain drop hitting the tiles during takeoff could damage them.....

So I would imagine a dense piece of foam hitting them .......could lead to what we saw today..

[octobersky]

TEXOKIE, that prayer was beautiful. My sentiments exactly. Thank you so much for composing those words of comfort and for sharing it with us.

[Cloud William]

"God wants to show that his might is greater than the Americans. They have encroached on our country. God is avenging us," he said.

Pfft. We have not yet begun to encroach!

[lainie]

Astronomer saw shuttle apparently in trouble over California
fyi

[Chad Fairbanks]

Interesting how almost every problem in this country is caused by a failure of the left wing.

OMG I shouldn't laugh, but I'll be damned I can't help it... thank you... havn't smiled much today, but that did it...

[betty boop]

Amen. Thank you, TEXOKIE.

[Lady Jag]

Whatever 'fell off' on takeoff, if it struck the shuttle, would have hit the left underside (see pix/videos). Re-entry warnings were tires and left wing. Same side.

[Steel Wolf]

I have never seen a general cry at a press conference.

Generals who give press conferences either don't have troops, or don't know them from Adam. Also, part of being an officer is staying emotionally detached from your subordinates. It is a necessary trait for that particular profession. Being a health care professional, I'm sure it's a necessary trait for you as well.

Why this would be needed from scientists and technicians is beyond me. So long as they stay focused on the misison until it's over, being emotional afterwards has no bearing on their jobs.

[Dog]

For the first time today I am going to cry.....Fox is showing a scene of debris in a town.....and someone has placed a cross of flowers near it...

[prairiebreeze]

God has taken them Home. This I know. Now they rest in the "Everlasting Arms".

Prayes for the families and friends

[patriot5186]

Yes..that is certainly the speculation. From the briefing it sounded like NASA didn't consider the impact to the tiles a safety issue...it sounded like they didn't even look at them. Is that correct?
God bless the courageous astronauts and their families!

[lainie]

Well I'm with you because I just read Peggy Noonan's new piece. I always admire her but she doesn't usually get to me like this.

[Tree of Liberty]

FOX quoting AP that human remains have been found

charred torso, arm, and skull.

found by hospital worker.