Debris Photos (GRAPHIC)

Yahoo News photos ^ | 2/2/03 | freepers

[Mark Felton]

[Your attention please. This thread has generated a ton of abuse reports. Some have been from long established freepers. Others have been from relative newbies. Some have been complaining about the thread. Others have been complaining about the complainers.

Throw on top of it the fact that some of the newbies who showed up on this thread happen to be returning bannees, who before being banned were friendly with some of the very people they are bickering with here, and something is striking us as just not right.

If you are interested in the debris photos, this is the thread for it. If not, don't join in this thread. It is not disrespectful to those who died to post pictures of the debris in our opinion. What they show and where they landed may help piece together what killed these brave people.

If you feel that is the wrong decision, we apologize and mean no harm. But please, no more arguing about it on the thread, and no more abuse reports on the matter.

Thanks, AM.]

Sun Feb 2, 1:14 AM ET

Fires, believed started by debris from the downed space shuttle Columbia, burn in an area near Dallas, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003. Seven astronauts perished when the shuttle broke to pieces as it re-entered the atmosphere at the end of a 16-day mission. (AP Photo/Joe Cavaretta)

Sat Feb 1, 9:31 PM ET

A video image of a helmet that dropped into a yard in Norwood Community, Texas from the space shuttle Columbia is seen Feb. 1, 2002. Many parts of the shuttle, along with human remains, were found in the area. NASA (news - web sites) officials later removed the helmet. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

Sat Feb 1,10:35 PM ET

A small brush fire started by a falling piece of debris from the space shuttle Columbia outside Athens, Texas after the shuttle broke apart during re-entry over Texas on its way to a scheduled landing in Fla., Feb. 1, 2003. Authorities have not speculated on the cause of the crash. (Jeff Mitchell/Reuters)

Sat Feb 1, 9:31 PM ET

A piece of debris believed to be from the space shuttle Columbia is photographed near Lufkin, Texas, Feb. 1, 2003. NASA (news - web sites) lost contact with the shuttle at around 9 a.m., about 16 minutes before its scheduled landing at Kennedy Space Center (news - web sites). (Reuters)

Sat Feb 1, 9:15 PM ET

Goldie Hamilton looks at a piece of debris that dropped into her yard in Alto, Texas from the space shuttle Columbia February 1, 2003. Many parts of the shuttle along with human remains were found in the area. Hamilton lives in the house in the background. REUTERS/Rick Wilking

Sat Feb 1, 9:18 PM ET

A piece of debris from the space shuttle Columbia dropped into this yard in Alto, Texas, February 1, 2003. Debris from space shuttle Columbia rained down onto fields, highways and a cemetery in Texas on Saturday, sending dozens of residents to hospitals after they handled the smoldering metal wreckage. All seven astronauts on board were killed in the break-up, which scattered potentially toxic debris across a 120-mile (190-km-long) swath of eastern Texas. REUTERS/Rick Wilking

Sat Feb 1, 7:43 PM ET

Stan Melasky, left, and his brother Steve Melasky look over a piece of debris, believed to be from the space shuttle Columbia, that fell on their farm near Douglass, Texas, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)

Sat Feb 1, 8:52 PM ET

An Anderson County sheriff's deputy walks past a piece of debris from the space shuttle Columbia outside Palestine, Texas after the shuttle broke apart during reentry over East Texas on its way to a scheduled landing in Florida, February 1, 2003. Shaken NASA (news - web sites) officials vowed to find out what caused the space shuttle Columbia to break up, saying they would look closely at the impact of a piece of foam insulation that struck the orbiter's left wing at takeoff. REUTERS/Jeff Mitchell

Sat Feb 1, 7:25 PM ET

A piece of space shuttle debris sits on the ground outside Bronson, Texas, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003. Space shuttle Columbia broke apart in flames 200,000 feet over Texas on Saturday, killing all seven astronauts just minutes before they were to glide to a landing in Florida. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Sat Feb 1, 7:29 PM ET

Searchers mark a small piece of debris while looking for remnants of the space shuttle outside Bronson, Texas, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003. Space shuttle Columbia broke apart in flames 200,000 feet over Texas on Saturday, killing all seven astronauts just minutes before they were to glide to a landing in Florida. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Sun Feb 2,10:11 AM ET

Resident Bugs Arriola looks at a piece of debris from the space shuttle Columbia, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2003 in Nacogdoches, Texas. People have been told not to touch any of the debris as there could be toxic chemicals on the material. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)

Sat Feb 1, 7:41 PM ET

Vollunteer firefigher John Berry looks out at small piece of debris believed to be from the space shuttle Columbia in a rural area north of Palestine, Texas, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003. The shuttle broke apart in flames over Texas on Saturday, killing all seven astronauts just minutes before they were to glide to a landing in Florida. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Sat Feb 1, 9:23 PM ET

A couple looks at a piece of debris from the space shuttle Columbia that dropped onto the highway in Alto, Texas February 1, 2003. Debris fromColumbia rained down onto fields, highways and a cemetery in Texas on Saturday, sending dozens of residents to hospitals after they handled the smoldering metal wreckage. All seven astronauts on board were killed in the break-up, which scattered potentially toxic debris across a 120-mile (190-km-long) swath of eastern Texas. REUTERS/Rick Wilking

[Chad Fairbanks]

how kind to allow us to join those ghoulish numb-skulls of the masses who race to the scene & hope to smell the burning flesh or touch that little piece of horrific history...

Have you ever smelled burning flesh? I have. So if not, STFU already...

[Tennessee_Bob]

Wow! You're still here.

[twyn1]

The stuff found on/near the highway was, in most cases, actually seen as it was falling and was described by eyewitnesses as "burning" or "hot", some even started small fires -- the co-incidence of so much debris being found along the road is just as someone earlier said....that's where the poeple were (alltho' I'd bet some finds will turn out to be junk that fell from a vehicle) -- I did read an account yesterday of some old guy working outside who watched a piece float down into his backyard, also the two women fishing, and there were a few people who thought something hit their house and went outside to find debris in their yard

I'm sure there is a lot that has not yet been found, esp. in wooded/swampy areas

[Budge]

FR is a news forum. Unfortunately the Columbia disaster is news.

Others have suggested you just ignore this thread if you find it distasteful.

You continue to read. You continue to complain. Why?

[Thinkin' Gal]

I wasn't sure if you knew that Columbia meant dove. It's one of those meanings that I've had filed away for eons, never know when it might come in handy. Jonah means dove also.

I was flamed yesterday for posting Scripture. I wasn't making any claims, but people assumed I was looking for a way to say it was God's judgment. I merely pointed out that several days before the launch, I found "Ilan" in the Bible, and the context was extremely disturbing to me. I emailed a couple of people at the time.

Since names are often very symbolic in Scripture, and since this mission was a most profound joint American and Israeli endeavor, out of curiousity I looked up the meaning of Ilan in my Hebrew name dictionary. It means "tree". Somewhat perplexed, I went over to the Strong's dictionary to see if/where the word was used. It's Aramaic, Strong's #363. The spelling is the same as the astronaut's name; I looked this up on the Hebrew version of Haaretz to be sure.

I discovered that the only use of this word was in Daniel chapter 4.

That is, "ilan" is the tree who's height reached unto heaven in the sight of all the earth, which was hewn down. Babylon was the world power at the time, as America is now, spiritual Babylon parallels to America notwithstanding.

It's a bit choppy to just post the select verses with the word ilan, so it's best to read through the chapter. However, the imagery speaks for itself, so I'll post them anyway:

Daniel 4:10 Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.

Daniel 4:11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:

Daniel 4:14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:

Daniel 4:20 The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;

Daniel 4:23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;

Daniel 4:26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.

I'm not offering an interpretation. I'm just posting what I saw, FWIW.

BTW early into the mission (January 17/18) was Tu B'Shevat, the new year for trees:

TU B'SHEVAT (15 Shevat) -'Tu' is made up of the two Hebrew letters 'Tet' (9) and 'Vav' (6), which have the combined numerical value of 15. It is called the 'New Year of the Trees' in the Talmud since it is the date from which the tithing year of fruit trees is calculated. In contemporary Israel it is marked by the planting of trees, and, hence, is often called 'the Jewish Arbor Day.' It is customary to eat and enjoy the fruits of the land of Israel on Tu B'Shevat.

[Arkinsaw]

Vehicle Damaged by Falling Debris in Nacogdoches, TX

[SarahW]

FYI -It's spelled "pertinent" - wouldn't want you to come across as a slobbery gap-toothed baboon who can barely string words "togethor".

[Mark Felton]

Your photo is a reminder to be thankful that, so far, there are no further injuries on the ground.

[crazykatz]

I had the priviledge of seeing the shuttle Columbia several years ago.... up close...I was in the building where it was being worked on. We were able to stand right next too it.

Our group, which was given the tour by a project director, was able to hold a "sample" of a heat tile.

The picture you posted looks like the surface area where the tiles are attached. Those whitish burned places look like the tiles...sort of burned or melted. The squares appear to be the places where other tiles where at one time.

[Arkinsaw]

Nacogdoches Resident Examines Collected Debris

[Mark Felton]

Could this be restored to "Breaking News", or "Front Page" columns? Most interested people will likely not see it otherwise.

thanks.

[Chad Fairbanks]

OOh... what a ghoulish picture... I think I'm going to wet my pants now... ;0)

[Lady Jag]

Knight Ridder Tribune

Sgt. Charles Paul, of the Navarro County Sheriff's Department waits on officials to pick up a heat tile from space shuttle Columbia.

[Arkinsaw]

Texas Officials Processing Debris Along Highway

[Ronaldus Magnus]

The police beg people & warn them not to steal the debris & you cal my reference anti-American?

You made the completely unsubstantiated assertion that people in mass were stealing the debris and that the police are being stretched beyond their limit by the lawlessness. From your post #79:

...it has been stolen & must be guarded. The police are stretched to the 'N'th degree by our wonderful citizens.

This is simply not true. The only strain has been in the call centers because of the thousands of "wonderful citizens" who have called in every flake of debris just as the NASA officials have requested that they do. Throughout Texas, normal citizens have set up perimeters and personally guarded the debris they have found until it can be collected by the authorities.

Furthermore, your sarcasm in saying "wonderful citizens" is extremely offensive. These respect and attention these people are showing in this time of tragedy is a living example of what makes this nation great. You should be ashamed.

[Admin Moderator]

I'll move it to Front page.

[Arkinsaw]

Volunteer Fireman Processes Debris at Etoile, TX

[Lady Jag]

Associated Press
Astronaut Mark Kelly, right, carries a piece of debris from the space shuttle Columbia as he and fellow astronaut Greg Johnson, center, work to recover pieces of the fallen spacecraft in Nacogdoches on Saturday. The shuttle disaster killed all seven astronauts onboard.

[michigander]

A Columbia mission patch was found alongside a road in Texas.

[Tall_Texan]

Is it just me or isn't it a bit unusual that so much debris has landed "just off the highway"...or on the highway? Perhaps some of this debris is debris that's always been there...fallen off cars, or trucks, or off the backs of pickups or garbage trucks.

I don't find it unusual at all. What you see along the highways is probably 1/100th of what's fallen but, being along the highway, it's the most easily accessible, particularly for news media.

There are probably fields, forest and farms littered with debris that will be turning up new evidence for years to come.

And, yes, some of what's being "discovered" and assumed as space shuttle debris is probably roadside junk (mufflers, bumpers, etc). It was reported that the Nacogdoches PD had received over 1,000 calls of debris sightings and had verified about 800 of them as credible. That tells you some folks are finding and old air conditioner compressor or some sort of metal stuff on their roof and presuming it's spacejunk not pre-existing junk.