Senator: Concerned Columbia Crew took Pictures of Damaged Left Wing

Florida Today.com ^ | Februrary 5, 2003 1:20PM | Staff Wire Report

[ewing]

Crew members of the Space Shuttle Columbia were concerned about the orbiter's damaged left wing according to United States Senator George Allen. (Republican-Virginia)

One of the crew members, Mission Specialist David Brown, sent e-mail messages to his brother Doug during the mission, Allen said. In those e-mails, David Brown said that the crew took pictures of the left wing because they were concerned about it, Allen said.

The Senator was only repeating information he recieved from Doug Brown, said his spokeswoman, Carrie Cantrell. There was no phone listing for Doug Brown's home in Arlington and he could not be reached today.

A 2 and one half pound chunk of insulation foam struck the underside of the wing during lifoff as the shuttle sped upwards of 1,900 MPH last month. At the time NASA officials did not think the damage would be a problem, but the agency is now investigating the wing as a possible reason that Columbia shattered on re-entry into Earth's atmosphere on Saturday.

[ewing]

Hmm..this is just coming up now?

[CyberAnt]

Yeah ... how come this has not been brought up before now ...??

[ewing]

I wonder what else is in those e-mails.

[Mad Dawgg]

Hmmmmm me thinks some asses will be kicked shortly...

Either someone making up a story or someone hiding some facts playing CYA. either way this sounds like a battle is heating up in the governemnt bureaucracy...

[AppyPappy]

No, the official excuse is now space debris. Ignore the foam that started causing trouble after environmental regulations affected it. That is not it.

[ironman]

"A 2 and one half pound chunk of insulation foam struck the underside"

Written with such certainty... Weight is estimate, composition is a guess (could have been ice too), may have struck leading edge...

[rface]

I think that this story about a "picture of the wing" is unfounded.....I believe this issue has been discussed here somewhere...

[Mo1]

The Senator was only repeating information he recieved from Doug Brown, said his spokeswoman, Carrie Cantrell. There was no phone listing for Doug Brown's home in Arlington and he could not be reached today.

He tells this to a Senator and no one else?? .. Not even the media?

[ewing]

And would Bill Clinton be involved with enforcing those enviornmental regulations perhaps?

[spokeshave]

" Ignore the foam that started causing trouble after environmental regulations affected it. That is not it." /sarcasm

[abner]

If this was the case and mission control wasn't contacted about it, my guess is that someone on the shuttle didn't follow protocol for reporting such an incident.

[ewing]

I agree, the Challenger was caused by ice as well..I think it may have had a role here

[savedbygrace]

From the AP article: Allen only briefly eluded to the astronauts’ concerns in a longer speech Tuesday that memorialized David Brown, a Virginia native.

I don't think the AP writer really wanted to use the word "eluded." He probably was thinking about "alluded," but his public school education got in the way.

[ez]

No, the official excuse is now space debris.

They really better not try that one after all we've learned.

[Sacajaweau]

Got a feeling this is phoney. I believe NASA said there is no way the astronauts could view the damage. And why would they send a message to home rather than NASA.

I'm also sure the message would have to go through NASA.

I don't think the astronauts had a separate "road-runner" line hooked up for private e-mails. Do you??

[ewing]

I think Doug was hoping that the Senator could bring it to light.

[Dane]

Cover up F*(cks!!!

What coverup? All these Astronauts and their families knew that space travel was not a walk in the park. Sorry but life isn't certain and there will always be risk.

Except from the blow holes who will automatically deem NASA as evil, for their own self-gratification of stating, "coverup, coverup".

Sheesh you have the same mentality as Peter Jennings, IMO.

[Mo1]

I think that this story about a "picture of the wing" is unfounded.....I believe this issue has been discussed here somewhere...

If you are talking about the one in the Israeli paper .. yes it has been .. it is a picture of the cargo bay

This article and the Senator is claiming the crew took pictures of the wing

[Mamzelle]

Can shuttle passengers even see under the wing?