Columbia Discussion thread

Feb 1, 2003

[spokanite]

So, they can orbit the earth for 16 days and not change their course at the beginning of the mission and dock at the space station to check out a possible life endangering problem?

I know nothing about space travel, so this may have been impossible to do?

[Vol2727]

Yeah, me too. And I'll betcha if this was Fox News doing the interview they would have asked this guy about the statement put forth by Iraq saying they were happy that this happened and that it was God's vengeance on America. grrr.....

[Liberal Classic]

Standing there alone, the ship is waiting
All systems are go. Are you sure?
Control is not convinced
But the computer
has the evidence
"No need to abort", the countdown starts

Watching in a trance, the crew is certain
Nothing left to chance, all is working
Trying to relax, up in the capsule
"Send me up a drink" jokes Major Tom
The count goes on

4... 3... 2... 1
Earth below us, drifting falling
Floating weightless, calling calling home...

Second stage is cut, we're now in orbit
Stabilizers up, runnning perfect
Starting to collect, requested data
What will it effect, when all is done
Thinks Major Tom

Back at ground control, there is a problem
Go to rockets full, not responding
"Hello Major Tom, are you receiving?
Turn the thrusters on, we're standing by"
There's no reply

4... 3... 2... 1
Earth below us, drifting falling
Floating weightless, calling calling home...

Across the stratosphere, a final message
"Give my wife my love" then nothing more

Far beneath the ship, the world is mourning
They don't realize, he's alive
No one understands, but Major Tom sees
Now the life commands, this is my home
I'm coming home

Earth below us, drifting falling
Floating weightless, coming home...
Earth below us, drifting falling
Floating weightless, coming home...
Earth below us, drifting falling
Floating weightless, coming coming home...
home......

[dep]

So, they can orbit the earth for 16 days and not change their course at the beginning of the mission and dock at the space station to check out a possible life endangering problem?

correct. it takes no fuel to remain in orbit for that short a period. all the gas they carry is for a little maneuvering plus the de-orbit burn. none for flying around.

dep

[Aracelis]

You stay professional on console. I KNOW! I have been on console for launch failures. However, it hits you right in the gut soon after.

Thank you, RA, for this insight. I think we all can appreciate how professionals must handle the crisis at the time, but the emotional devastation afterward must be crushing. As I understand it, NASA behaves as one huge family...one that you never really leave even if professional pursuits take you far away from Mission Control. I offer my heartfelt condolances to you, my friend, as you are indeed a permanent part of NASA's extended family.

[Mamzelle]

I found it poignant...sorry if it offended. I also save the front pages from important news stories, and FR was watching the landing from one coast to another in the early morning.

[CyberAnt]

And ... no one has ever taken credit for TWA800

[ChemistCat]

It's so much like 1986.

We had a major fire south of here at a recycling plant. It burned for a long time and put a lot of what must be pretty toxic smoke low to the ground for a long distance. The local news has not mentioned it. The world has come to a stop, and we can't think of much else.

[Slip18]

Thank you for the flowers from FReepers, nic. That was very thoughtful of you.

May God bless everyone involved in this space disaster. I'm still numb here myself.

[Dog]

Fox showing a scene in a field of rescue workers standing over human remains...with a hearse nearby..

[CyberAnt]

Because 43 is not x42

[Trust but Verify]

If the experts say there was zero they could have done to repair tile damage in space, I'll have to beleive them. My take was that they took a very close look at the situation from the standpoint of physics and determined there would be nothing significant. Even if there was something significant, there was nothing that could have been done.

[spokanite]

Thank you for the education!

I'm just a lowly farmer out in the middle of wheat fields. I just recently found out that one of the astronauts grew up and his family still lives in this region. Fairchild Airforce Base is less than 30 miles from here.

My heart aches for them all.

[dansangel]

Beautiful...thank-you so much for this prayer, Texokie....

[backhoe]

I'm OK neighbor- it's kind of numbing when something like this happens. Reminds me of seeing the picture of the World Trade Center with the burning hole in it that 9-11 morning. It's kind of hard to believe...

[lonestar]

Amen.

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Fox also had video of a relatively-intact astronaut helmet, just sitting on the ground. Amazing.

[visitor]

Lord, guard and guide the men who fly
Through the great spaces in the sky,
Be with them always in the air,
In dark'ning storms or sunlight fair.
O, Hear us when we lift our prayer,
For those in peril in the air.

these seven souls we mourn today as they
slipped the surly bonds of earth
to touch the face of God.

[CyberAnt]

Just heard on FOX - if a person keeps a piece of Shuttle, it's a $250,000 fine and 10 years in jail.