Video shows shuttle may have shed debris over Arizona - check out this video taken by amateurs

The Dallas Morning News ^ | February 3, 2003 | By BYRON HARRIS / WFAA-TV

[MeekOneGOP]

Video shows shuttle may have shed debris over Arizona

02/04/2003

By BYRON HARRIS / WFAA-TV

NEWS 8 EXCLUSIVE

There is now dramatic new evidence that the shuttle Columbia may have been in trouble before it disintegrated over Texas.

The spacecraft's demise may have begun much farther west - captured on tape in Arizona.

The sky over Wupatki National Monument was still dark Saturday morning when Scott and Chris Valentine got up early to shoot pictures of Columbia en route to a landing in Florida.

Also Online

	Video: Amateur tape could hold clues

The Valentines were space fans, so they knew where the shuttle was supposed to be at a given time, and when it was supposed to fly overhead. When it was first sighted, they were initially ecstatic.

"That is cool ... it's cool," their voices can be heard saying on the videotape. "There are seven people in that thing!"

For a few grand seconds it was a space buff's dream: a dot of energy moving eastward into the dawn.

WFAA-TV

Amateur tape shows what appears to be an object breaking off Columbia over Arizona.

Then, as the young phtographer zoomed in for a final shot, the excitement turned to shock as a piece appeared to drop off the spacecraft.

"Look at the chunks falling off of it," said a voice on the tape. "What the heck is that?"

Columbia then sped out of view into the sunrise - and to its disintegration.

Minutes earlier, in California, two amateur astronomers took still photos as the shuttle passed over them. Their shots show a thickening of Columbia's contrail in two places, as if something may have dropped off there as well.

NASA said it has talked to witnesses in California about debris there. Now, this exclusive video may be a major piece in a puzzle that now has thousands of pieces.

"If we find any tile or structure upsteram of Fort Worth, New Mexico (or) Arizona - if that exists - that is extremely important to us," said NASA's Ron Dittemore.

In the video, it was dark because the sun rises east to west, and it was not yet fully light in Arizona.

But, visible in the corner of the video was the time of day - corresponding to 7:55 a.m. Dallas time, just a few minutes before the shuttle flew over Dallas.

The tape has now been turned over to NASA investigators.

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Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dallas/latestnews/stories/wfaa030203_am_azvideo.1d7ff605.html

[MeekOneGOP]

Check out the video link. Clearly, a piece fell off. Good video:

http://www.wfaa.com/watchvideo/index.jsp?SID=3683978

[MeekOneGOP]

Here is the link if you want to see the video taken over Arizona:

http://www.wfaa.com/watchvideo/index.jsp?SID=3683978

Amateur tape shows what appears to be an object
breaking off Columbia over Arizona.

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my General Interest ping list!. . .don't be shy.

[John W]

Oh my.That is something,particularly their shocked observations.

[MonroeDNA]

Nice find.

[Timesink]

There is now dramatic new evidence that the shuttle Columbia may have been in trouble before it disintegrated over Texas.

When you're moving at Mach 18, a couple of state lines is nothing.

[Mo1]

WOW!!!!

[Lion's Cub]

Late Sunday night (or early Monday morning), I drove to the local post office to drop some bills in the mailbox. The radio was on a local station that carries the Coast to Coast Show. Richard Hoagland claimed that two astronomers (one from Australia) said they could see bits of debris falling off when the shuttle entered the atmoshpere over California. While most of that show (which I rarely listen to) belongs in the garbage, occasionally they do discuss real information. I don't know if it's true, but it certainly sounded credible to me. If so, I would assume they have already reported their observations to NASA.

[visualops]

It's quite apparent there's something appearing to come from the shuttle, but whether variations like that are normal I certainly can't say. Any commentary a layman would have on any video I think would be sheer speculation.

[.30Carbine]

Thanks, MnM. Tiger bump.

[maquiladora]

The San Fran Chronicle had the story about the Aussie astronomer. Seemingly he has some pics of some weird plasma/electrical discharge near the shuttle as it passed over California.

[Churchjack]

I'm no expert, but I've seen the shuttle come in early in the pre-dawn hours over Texas before...it is a marvelous sight, but there's no secondary objects or things dropping from it. A big ball of light with a contrail.

There was a small cross-section of tile just behind my church (in Kerens), and a nondescript metal chunk driven into the ground at the A of G a block away.

Prayers and condolences to the astronauts and their families.

[Lion's Cub]

Seemingly he has some pics of some weird plasma/electrical discharge near the shuttle as it passed over California.

I'll wait for a bit more verification before I buy into an act of war :)

However, MSNBC, according to a poster on another thread, did confirm that there was an American astronomer who saw debris coming off over California. If the poster heard correctly, that ought to show up at their website today.

[mewzilla]

According to Brian Ross, whom I just saw on GMA there are pics of the orbiter that were taken by the AF while it was up, though not at NASA's request apparently. NASA didn't ask for the photos until after whatever happened happened, and has placed a gag order on discussion of the pics' contents.

[glock rocks]

wow.

[John W]

If these are pictures while in orbit,that show unsurvivable damage,then what?

[Cold Heat]

I was the poster, Imus was interviewing a very seasoned NBC space reporter who called the mans story absolutely true.

Sorry, I can't recall his name, it had a wierd spelling.

Checking the NBC site now.

[Cboldt]

Know you are interested, and that you have a sizable 'ping' list.

[djf]

Anyone know if it exists anywhere in non-REAL format? I dumped REAL for Windoze Media Player 7.

[Cold Heat]

I dumped real as well, it kept doing stuff and calling home to momma. I did not like it's invasive controlling nature and tossed it.

[lonestar]

Thanks.