[GRRRRR]

NEWS CONFERENCE: Live comments...3pm Eastern full tech briefing from Johnsons Space center. A tragic day for NASA family and astronauts families. Immediately upon loss of comm, just after 9am Eastern, advised Pres, Sec of Homeland Security that Columbia was lost at 0916.

Spent next 90 mins working thru info they had received...met with family memebers that were at Kennedy. The Pres HAS called and spoken to families.

They have NO indications that anything on ground caused the mishap.

Team coordinating all facts, rapid response team from Huntsville, KSC and JSC.

Collecting INDEPENDENT people to review all data that was locked down after Loss of Comm. DOT, Navy etc. Chair will be external to all Fed Agencies.

[GRRRRR]

LIVE CONFERENCE Continued:

Securing all evidence on the ground, urge anyone who finds stuff, stay away from it, contact local officials. FEMA is conducting gathering of evidence under DeptHomelandSecurity, per Ridge.

They were happy and expectant of the upcoming landing at KSC...the crew were dedicated group, loss of crew is something they will never get over...they will do everything to work thru this tragedy. Ask MEDIA to respect their privacy too...they will HELP MEDIA to respect their privacy...(guy is near tears...)