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.

[areafiftyone]

These brave souls lost their lives for the advancement of science. May they rest in peace. SOO SAD! My heart is breaking!

[ChemistCat]

You know that there are Palestinians dancing in the streets over this--death of an Israeli astronaut--like there were after 9/11. The media is VERY CAREFULLY avoiding showing us ANY reaction in the Arab world and I can't help but be certain they are jubilant.

I know they regret showing us the post-9/11 celebrations, but I am resenting the idea that anti-war sentiment among journalists is screening my news. They don't want me to know how my incipient enemies are reacting to this. Am I way off-base?!

[mrs9x]

If there had been some sort of missile, the shuttle would have blown up right away. Instead, it looked like pieces just kind of started flying off of it and it disintegrated slowly.

[rintense]

I want to know what the last communication with the shuttle was. Did they know they were in trouble?

[hole_n_one]

[bootless]

I feel just sick. God bless their souls, their families, and God bless us all.

snopercod, I am sorry - I would imagine that they're always going to be family. Jay must be beside himself today.

[sheik yerbouty]

Could the onboard computers be hacked?

[Chi-townChief]

It was interesting (please excuse my poor choice of words) to hear from some of the astronauts that had flown Columbia before - I'm willing to bet that they are at least 80% certain of what happened up there but are smart enough not to say.

Continue to pray for the crew and their families.

[alisasny]

I hope you are ok! Just struck me that you may not be dealing with this very well.

[exnavy]

bump for later

[Howlin]

Oh, yes, the ones that are in the space station? Arrangements will have to be made now to find a way to get them home, I believe.

[kittymyrib]

Texas is weeping for Commander Husband from Amarillo and Pilot McCool from Lubbock who died high over our sacred ground, serving their country as they had done throughout their lives. Rest in peace. You are added to our long list of heroes.

[steveegg]

How many shuttles we have left?

3, IIRC.

[Arkinsaw]

Captain Rick Hauk (USN retired and former shuttle pilot) has speculated that the angle of attack on reentry might have been amiss. This a computer controlled event.

This why I would never want be a coder for NASA.

[rintense]

Yep. The problem is that with the nature of today's need to know now media, the specualtion that is thrown out is sometimes so incredibly stupid and uninformed...

[Movemout]

"Heard that, too -- said there was a "heat spike" at about the same time of the breakup. "

A heat spike in this instance may refer to the vehicle health monitoring systems that are an integral part of the shuttle. Thermal management is key to all space hardware.

[Faraday]

My comment from the other thread:

Americans are an inquisitive, exploratory people. Explorers are always on the edge. We will suffer losses because we lean into the wind of discovery. Hail the brave!

It is no wonder that America suffers losses of this type. We lead the world in defending freedom, fighting evil, and exploring the unknown. May we continue to lead in all these actions in spite of the cost. It is who we are.

[Chad Fairbanks]

I was a teenager in New Hampshire, watching live when the Challenger exploded - we were so proud that a teacher form our state had been chosen, and our moment of pride quickly turned to sorrow... I had hoped to never see anything like that ever again... Now this... I am speechless...