Michele 1 #1 February 1, 2003 NASA Mission lost contact radar and voice on the hour with the Space Shuttle while it was over Texas. It was on automatic radio. It is preparing to land...news saying we should've heard sonic booms, and should've seen by now. Should be on the runway right now. Contingency plan could've been implemented. No objects tracked at all. Edit 1: NASA instructing all to secure all data. Alti last known at was 207,000 feet (possible 217K). Would've been cutting thrusters and coming in as a glider. Last communications at 8 am. 6:23 Edit 2: Columbia Space Shuttle carried 7 astronaut. missing last 22 minutes. Scheduled to land at Cape Canaveral at 9:22. normal communications lost as re-enter atmosphere...but not regained at all. Still not on radar. No ability to restart engines and re-enter orbit. No tracking. Merit Island not receiving data. 6:27 Edit: Out of contact for 27 minutes, 10 minutes late to land. Family members waiting. Family members have been brought into secure area. 6:30 am Edit. Per Kyle Herring(unk) PAO at NASA: Nothing new. Maintaining posture (contingncy plans...securing notes and data). Radar tracks single streaks, and then multiple streaks. 12,500 mph. traveling. Series of high speed turns from computer design made at that point to slow. Tape being shown by FAA, something has occured...unknown (CNN) 6:34 Search and rescue teams in Palestine TX Loud impact. Dallas S&R on way, have been mobilized. 6:36 NASA asks anyone finding something unusual to leave it alone, call local police. Dallas FW area, vicinity should be avoided. Report immediately. May be hazardous. 6:40 Showing tape. Arc of descent is severe. Looks like it's burning. 6:40 KXAS TV/Texas reporting that Shuttle has exploded over Texas. Mobilizing all emergency procedures. 6:43 MSNBC now talking about terrorism... NASA repeating all debris should be reported to local law enforcement and avoided. Hazardous. S&R teams have been alerted and are movnign out. 6:48 Per AP: 16 days ago during launch, insulation foam on fuel tank broke off and struck left wing. Columbia was oldest in fleet, scheduled for retrofitting and modification. Built in 1979. 6:58 NASA not declaring lost yet, but it's pretty clear it's down. 7:00 NASA declares lost flight. State of Emergency declared by NASA (not state, nor federal. Internal only) 7:22 Debris being found in many places, wide area. Central and east Texas. No additional ground injuries being reported yet. 7:32 Nacadocious city PIO states that there are several large debris sites within the city of Nackadocious. No reports of injuries on the ground. (Unsure of spelling of the city.) No reports of damage yet. 8:01 Per NASA: Large debris field spotted in North Central Texas (no specific area identified). NASA will hold news conference at 8:30 PST/11:30 EST. NASA has lowered flag to half-staff. 8:19 White House reports no indication of terrorism. Homeland Office confirms. 8:38 Press conference delayed. Search grid expanded to Texas, Oklahoma, Arkasas and perhaps even New Mexico. Rest in peace, fearless flyers. Reach and find your wings, fly free, far and fast. Thank you, and Godspeed Rick Husband, Commander (USA) William McKull, Pilot (USA) Michael Anderson, Payload Specialist (USA) Kalpana Chalwa(USA, born in India, naturalized citizen) David Brown (USA) Laurel Clark (USA) Ilon Ramon (Israeli) Keep them in your prayers... Please forgive typos. I am in tears. I am leaving this as it stands. Should there be anything new, I'll come back in. Blue skies, my brothers and sisters, blue skies and god speed. ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skygal3 0 #2 February 1, 2003 I'm not finding the story online anywhere.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michele 1 #3 February 1, 2003 Breaking right now. try the TV...MSNBC, FOX, CNN...all carrying it. I'll try to keep the post updated. ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rdutch 0 #4 February 1, 2003 Im in Florida waiting for the usual boom when the shuttle land's. So I turn the tv on and they are freaking out. No one knows what's happened but lat time they heard anything it was flying over Texas at 12,000mph. And Nasa is reported to not be replying. Ray Small and fast what every girl dreams of! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skygal3 0 #5 February 1, 2003 I can't get out of my office. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michele 1 #6 February 1, 2003 I'll try to update this post as best I can. ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rdutch 0 #7 February 1, 2003 Newest thing reported, Nasa is using their Contingency plan, the reporter said that is what they use for a failed mission. Lets hope their well. Ray Small and fast what every girl dreams of! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkySlut 0 #8 February 1, 2003 I heard something on the news last night about a damaged wing and how it could affect the landing...Didnt really think anything of it. It was just a quick news blerb and I had a couple of beers in me. Hope all is well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rdutch 0 #9 February 1, 2003 Their evacuating the cape now. All reporters and visitors are leaving. This isnt looking good. Ray Small and fast what every girl dreams of! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFKING 3 #10 February 1, 2003 Reprting an explosion in Dallas....but not confirmed to be related. This is not sounding good. Edit....debris falling over Texas. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skygal3 0 #11 February 1, 2003 thanks. I sent my assistant in to go watch but I doubt she will come back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rdutch 0 #12 February 1, 2003 Search and rescue teams are being dispatched to the Dallas Ft worth area. Anyone in texas hear anything? Ray Small and fast what every girl dreams of! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkySlut 0 #13 February 1, 2003 uh oh...this week was the anniversary of the challenger disaster. I'll never forget that day, especially because I was going to school in NH and they had a NH teacher on board that mission. We were all sitting in class to watch the launch. What a nightmare. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rdutch 0 #14 February 1, 2003 Just saw video of the shuttle, you can clearly see a few peices of it. Ray Small and fast what every girl dreams of! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opie 0 #15 February 1, 2003 100 mi south of dallas, reports of a loud impact. CNN Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 35 #16 February 1, 2003 Thanks for posting, Michele. My daughter was watching cartoons and I had no idea. From what I gather, they're saying that the shuttle was at it's hottest temperature as it was reentering the atmosphere. They just showed video of fire streaming through the sky. I'm sure the astronauts were instantaneously vaporized. God be with them.She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man, because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
n2skdvn 0 #17 February 1, 2003 i watched it come over new orleans it didnt look right from when i saw it(ive watched 6 previous reentry's ) it looked like mutiple vapor trails my prayers for the famlies..... if my calculations are correct SLINKY + ESCULATOR = EVERLASTING FUN my site Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #18 February 1, 2003 That's horrible. Don't bother watching the news about it though. They're not going to know anything until the conduct an investigation. MSNBC is speculating that it was a "terrorist attack" because the first Israeli was on board. That's just a ridiculous and unnecessary grab for ratings. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michele 1 #19 February 1, 2003 Just curious for all those out there who'd know, 'cause I sure don't know...(and the Pentagon and JCS are meeting right now for a Domestic Events Conference - normal procedure for something like this). Is there anything that could reach 207k/217k feet in the air? Oh my god, this is horrible. ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opie 0 #20 February 1, 2003 QuoteThat's horrible. Don't bother watching the news about it though. They're not going to know anything until the conduct an investigation. MSNBC is speculating that it was a "terrorist attack" because the first Israeli was on board. That's just a ridiculous and unnecessary grab for ratings. ridiculous and unnecessary for sure. Some people should learn to think before they speak. If they cannot we shouldn't let them work for a so called news station. God Bless all onboard Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RevJim 0 #21 February 1, 2003 http://www.msnbc.com/m/lv/default.asp?0cm=c10 Breaking video, for those of you that are interested. I does not look good, not good at all. They are in my prayers.It's your life, live it! Karma RB#684 "Corcho", ASK#60, Muff#3520, NCB#398, NHDZ#4, C-33989, DG#1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hagar 0 #22 February 1, 2003 The SR-71 flew at 80-90K and where never touched by anything. Hitting anything @200K ft /12,500 mph would be like hitting a bullet with a bullet.--- PCSS #10 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skycat 0 #23 February 1, 2003 We have been watching it on CNN here at work all morning. Condolences to the friends and family of those on the shuttle. Fly it like you stole it! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkySlut 0 #24 February 1, 2003 I coulda sworn I hear something about a damaged wing last night on florida news...anyone else hear this??? I am trying to find articles on their websites... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #25 February 1, 2003 thats not good. they lost 7My photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
