Columbia

Boomerang · Post by **Boomerang** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 9:38 pm

If you think thats bad Monkeynautt look at my post above on profiteering it gets much worse. As far as the russian shuttle there are actually 3 of them noe are flightworthy anymore but one did fly in 88. Also below youll find the newest PAO report i just got.

STS-107
Report #19
Saturday, February 1, 2003 - 7:00 p.m. CST
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas

The Space Shuttle Columbia and its seven astronauts were lost today when the
vehicle broke up over north central Texas during its reentry from orbit.

Communications were lost with Columbia and its crew at around 8:00 a.m. CST,
while the shuttle was traveling about 18 times the speed of sound at an
altitude of 207,000 feet. Columbia was 16 minutes from landing at the
Kennedy Space Center when flight controllers at Mission Control lost contact
with the vehicle. Columbia was returning from a 16-day scientific research
mission, its 28th flight, which launched on January 16.

Aboard Columbia were Commander Rick Husband, completing his second flight,
Pilot William McCool, wrapping up his first mission, Mission Specialists
Dave Brown, also completing his first mission, Kalpana Chawla, on her second
flight, Laurel Clark, a first-time space traveler, Payload Commander Mike
Anderson, ending his second flight, and Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon of the
Israel Space Agency, on his first flight.

Prior to the loss of communications with Columbia, the shuttle's return to
Earth appeared perfectly normal. After assessing some wispy fog near the
shuttle's three-mile long landing strip at KSC before dawn, Entry Flight
Director Leroy Cain gave approval for the firing of the shuttle's braking
rockets to begin its descent from orbit.

Husband and McCool began the deorbit burn to allow Columbia to slip out of
orbit at 7:15 a.m. CST. There was no indication of anything abnormal with
Columbia's reentry until the last communications between Mission Control and
the crew.

At Columbia's intended landing site, NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe and
Associate Administrator for Space Flight William Readdy met with the
families of the astronauts to offer their condolences, vowed to uncover the
cause of the accident and press ahead with the Shuttle program.

"This is indeed a tragic day for the NASA family, for the families of the
astronauts who flew on STS-107, and likewise is tragic for the nation," said
O'Keefe.

"We have no indication that the mishap was caused by anything or anyone on
the ground," O'Keefe added.

In a briefing, Chief Flight Director Milt Heflin said that around 7:53 a.m.
CST, just minutes before communications were lost with Columbia, flight
controllers detected indications of a loss of hydraulic system temperature
measurements associated with Columbia's left wing, followed three minutes
later by an increase in temperatures on the left main gear tires and
brakes. At 7:58 a.m., flight controllers noted a loss of bondline
temperature sensor data in the area of the left wing followed a minute later
by a loss of data on tire temperatures and pressures for the left inboard
and outboard tires.

After several attempts to try to contact Columbia, Cain declared a
contingency, whereby flight controllers began preserving documentation
regarding the entry phase of the flight. Recovery forces fanned out from
Texas to Louisiana to try to recover debris that will be pertinent to the
mishap investigation.

Space Shuttle Program Manager Ron Dittemore said several teams have been
organized to gather data for analysis and will report to an external
investigation board that was appointed by Administrator O'Keefe. Dittemore
added that no specific orbiter debris or crew remains have been positively
identified at this time, and that there is no leading theory for the cause
of the accident.

Dittemore said the processing of other shuttles at the Kennedy Space Center
for future launches has been temporarily halted to enable engineers to
review data regarding vehicle processing and to focus attention on capturing
all pertinent information involving Columbia's prelaunch preparations.

NASA managers will be meeting on a regular basis to begin reviewing data
associated with Columbia's investigation. The next status briefing from the
Johnson Space Center is tentatively scheduled from the Johnson Space Center,
Houston, TX at 12:00 p.m. CST Sunday. It will be seen on NASA Television
with two-way question and answer capability for reporters from NASA centers.

NASA TV can be found on AMC-2, Transponder 9C, vertical polarization at 85
degrees West longitude, 3880 MHz, with audio at 6.8 MHz.

On the International Space Station, Expedition 6 Commander Ken Bowersox,
Flight Engineer Nikolai Budarin and NASA ISS Science Officer Don Pettit were
informed of the loss of Columbia and its crew shortly after a Russian
Progress resupply vehicle undocked from the ISS. Filled with discarded items
no longer needed on the ISS, the Progress was commanded to deorbit by
Russian flight controllers and reentered the Earth's atmosphere.

A new Progress cargo ship will be launched Sunday from the Baikonur
Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 6:59 a.m. CST (1259 GMT) filled with supplies
for the Expedition 6 crew. It is scheduled to dock to the ISS Tuesday
morning. ISS program officials say, if necessary, the current resident crew
could remain in orbit until late June with the supplies being ferried to the
station on the new Progress.

Additional status reports will be issued as new information becomes
available.

monkeynautt · Post by **monkeynautt** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 9:44 pm

i can't begin to imagine what is going through the minds of the ISS crew. They're now somewhat isolated from the US because of the postponment of all future shuttle missions. it must be horrible knowing that your friends never made it back to earth.

Boomerang · Post by **Boomerang** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 9:51 pm

I had verry similar thoughts earlier. I cant imagine what they must be thinking and feeling right now. I also wonder how the people at space camp learned of the accident this morning and what occured there afterwards.

monkeynautt · Post by **monkeynautt** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 9:55 pm

I wounder how it will affect Space Camp and how missions are done. Space CAmp survived Challenger and 9/11 so it should hopefully survive this but what will change. They always give problems during missions but with this recent event it will be very difficult.

Boomerang · Post by **Boomerang** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 10:01 pm

Well i'm sure the camp will get through this. I know it must be hard though. Hopefully we can get some info from some of the people who are working there in the next few days.

monkeynautt · Post by **monkeynautt** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 10:01 pm

Time seems to have sped up. Its seems like i just fopund out about Columbia but I found out 10 hours ago. The day has past with great pain for the astronaut's families, NASA, the people of Isreal and everyone affected by this tragedy. I can't belive this day is almost over. I will never forget today. We must keep the memories of the seven fallen astronauts alive forever. We love you all - you are space heroes.

LaRsOnAtRiXkIx · Post by **LaRsOnAtRiXkIx** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 10:09 pm

LB206 wrote:Well Columbia will always have a special place in my heart. The first year i went to space camp that was the shuttle simulator we used. I know that doesnt mean much in the big scheme of things but it still makes me feel like i have a connection to Columbia. It sems ironic now that Space Camp recently removed Columbia from the training center floor.

i was looking through my pitures today, trying to find one of the patfinder model so i could try to show mymom how big it is, i found noe of my team in front of the columbia simulator. hmm..
yeah i wonder what they did at camp today too.
grrr i just want to go back more now.
i cant believe its stis still on the news either..and ive been watching it since 9..woo. i havent watched this much news since 9.11

Boomerang · Post by **Boomerang** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 10:09 pm

Well here is an image done after the challenger accident but its verry fitting today. I hope it comes out because im not sure im doing it right. If it doesnt work ill just post the link in another post.

Post by **Vincent** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 11:43 pm

ApolloXI wrote:
Vincent wrote:Yes...the Great Birds certainly are an endangered species...

Only three left in the world.
There is one also in Russia. But they have never used it it is just sitting collecting snow and dust.

It's not the same. This was one of our Great Birds.

Boomerang · Post by **Boomerang** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 11:53 pm

True Vincent and there will never be another Columbia. I have several things bearing columbias name including 5 mission patches of columbia missions and newspaper articles from when Columbia landed following its first flight in 1981. As well as another newspaper article about a Columbia launch sometime prior to challenger. I know there will be alot more information coming out in the next days weeks and months to come hopefully NASA can determine what went wrong the problem can be fixed and the shuttle will return to space as soon as possible. God Bless the Crew of STS-107 and their families as well as the entire NASA Family.

FatMan · Post by **FatMan** » Sun Feb 02, 2003 12:43 am

Its exactly events like this that make me think if its all worth the risks. Its things like these that make me ask is my dream wrth the risk. Then I remember that if we didnt tak risks then weoul be no where. I know it may be hard for a lot of peopl to look at the silver lining in this situation, but there is always one. Once NASA is finished with the invetigation and do find out what caused this great tragedy will find a way to improve the shuttle and make sure nothinglike this happens agian.

ApolloXI · Post by **ApolloXI** » Sun Feb 02, 2003 4:03 am

It has all most been a day after. I have never felt such a loss since 9/11. It seems strnage just a few days ago we where talking about Challanger and Apollo I. For most of the night I didn't sleep will.

Benji · Post by **Benji** » Sun Feb 02, 2003 11:46 am

I think its finally hit me. Columbia is gone.

Boomerang · Post by **Boomerang** » Sun Feb 02, 2003 12:47 pm

To me I still believe it is worth the risk. In every great human endeacour there is risk and there always will be/ Risk is part of exploration and part of going into the unknown. Every astronaut as well as any other explorer whether it be exploring space or the depths of the ocean knows they are putting their lives at risk. But i believe its worth it to beable to do the job.

monkeynautt · Post by **monkeynautt** » Sun Feb 02, 2003 12:53 pm

It's still so hard to believe that this has actually happened. Everything is so different now. I always wondered what it must have been like after the days following Challenger and now I have experienced Columbia. We can only hope that NASA will be able to recover. The media are saying that the ISS may be abandoned but I will never believe that. We can gain so much knowledge from the ISS. One day - hopefully soon, when we have all had time to grieve and recover - I believe we will fly again. And when the birds fly once again it will be beautiful.

Boomerang · Post by **Boomerang** » Sun Feb 02, 2003 12:54 pm

I just thought i'd post this poem "High Flight". It was connected with the Challenger accident 17 years ago but i think its still fitting today.

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, --- and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of --- wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .

Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew ---
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

--- John Gillespie Magee, Jr

Boomerang · Post by **Boomerang** » Sun Feb 02, 2003 1:09 pm

Well i went to the JSC Digital image gallery and found a picture of Columbias first launch so here it is.

Boomerang · Post by **Boomerang** » Sun Feb 02, 2003 3:16 pm

Ok here is the lastest PAO release from NASA.

Glenn Mahone/Bob Jacobs
Headquarters, Washington

February 2, 2003

RELEASE: 03-034

NASA ANNOUNCES SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION BOARD (THE GEHMAN BOARD)

NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe today announced the members of the Space Shuttle Mishap Interagency Investigation Board, which will provide an independent review of the events and activities that led up to the tragic loss of the seven astronauts Saturday on board the Space Shuttle Columbia.

The board's first meeting is scheduled for tomorrow at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana.

Retired U.S. Navy Admiral Harold W. Gehman, Jr., who co-chaired the independent commission that investigated the attack on the U.S.S. Cole in Aden, Yemen, Oct. 12, 2000, and once served as the commander-in-chief of U.S. Joint Forces Command, will chair the panel.

"While the NASA family and the entire world mourn the loss of our colleagues, we have a responsibility to quickly move forward with an external assessment to determine exactly what happened and why," said Administrator O'Keefe. "We're honored to have such a distinguished panel of experts, led by Admiral Gehman."

Other members of the investigative board includes:

* Rear Admiral Stephen Turcotte, Commander, U.S. Naval Safety Center, Norfolk, Va.
* Major General John L. Barry, Director, Plans and Programs, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
* Major General Kenneth W. Hess, Commander, U.S. Air Force Chief of Safety, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
* Dr. James N. Hallock, Aviation Safety Division Chief, U.S. Department of Transportation, Cambridge, Mass.
* Steven B. Wallace, Director of Accident Investigation, Federal Aviation Administration, Washington
* Brigadier General Duane Deal, Commander 21st Space Wing, Peterson Air Foce Base, Colo.

Several senior NASA leaders also will be a part of the panel, including G. Scott Hubbard, Director, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. Bryan D. O'Connor, NASA Associate Administrator and former astronaut, Office of Safety and Mission Assurance, Headquarters, will serve as Ex-Officio Member, and Theron Bradley, Jr., NASA Chief Engineer, NASA Headquarters, Washington, will be Executive Secretary.

"We need to be responsible, accountable, and extremely thorough in this investigation," added Administrator O'Keefe. "This panel is charged with a most difficult task, but I am confident in their ability, their integrity, and their dedication to doing what's right. Their findings will help push America's space program successfully into the future."

"Currently, NASA is beginning an internal investigation, drawing on the extensive expertise throughout the agency. Public officials for NASA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and other federal, state, and local entities are coordinating talents to help find the cause of this tragedy," concluded Administrator O'Keefe

Additional information about the investigation and the STS-107 mission is available on the Internet at:

<http://www.nasa.gov>

<http://spaceflight.nasa.gov>

-end-

Boomerang · Post by **Boomerang** » Sun Feb 02, 2003 3:29 pm

Ok heres the latest PAO release for today. More are sure to come and i will continue posting them when i get them.

Robert Mirelson
Headquarters, Washington

Feb. 2, 2003
1:00 p.m. EST

RELEASE: 03-036

NASA PRESS CONFERENCES ANNOUNCED

A press conference by Space Shuttle Program Manager Ron
Dittemore and the Director of Flight Crew Operations, Bob
Cabana will take place from NASA's Johnson Space Center,
Houston, at 4:30 p.m. EST today. The briefing will be
carried on NASA TV with limited two-way question and answer
capability from other agency centers.

NASA is planning two-per-day press briefings starting
Monday, Feb. 3, 2003. There will be a daily press briefing
from NASA Headquarters, 300 E Street SW, Washington, at
11:30 a.m. EST and at 4:30 p.m. EST from the Johnson Space
Center. Senior NASA officials will participate in the press
briefings.

NASA TV is on AMC-2, Transponder 9C, vertical polarization
at 85 degrees west longitude, 3880 MHz, with audio at 6.8
MHz.

More information will be released as it becomes available.
NASA information is available on the Internet at:

www.nasa.gov

-end-

* * *

Boomerang · Post by **Boomerang** » Sun Feb 02, 2003 4:12 pm

Below is a quote from Ray Bradbuty about why we should explore space.

"...my father replies that we are made to live here. We need air to breathe, water to drink, we suffocate without air and water: so why go (into space)?"

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"For the same reason that makes us bring children into the world. Because we're afraid of death and darkness, and because we want to see our image reflected and perpetuated to immortality. We don't want to die, but death is there, and because it's there we give birth to children who'll give birth to other children and so on to infinity. And this way we are handed down to eternity. Don't let us forget this: that the Earth can die, explode, the Sun can go out, will go out. And if the Sun dies, if the Earth dies, if our race dies, then so will everything die that we have done up to that moment. Homer will die, Michelangelo will die, Galileo, Leonardo, Shakespeare, Einstein will die, all those will die who now are not dead because we are alive, we are thinking of them, we are carrying them within us. And then every single thing, every memory, will hurtle down into the void with us. So let us save them, let us save ourselves. Let us prepare ourselves to escape, to continue life and rebuild our cities on other planets: we shall not long be of this Earth! And if we really fear the darkness, if we really fight against it, then, for the good of all, let us take our rockets, let us get well used to the great cold and heat, the no water, the no oxygen, let us become Martians on Mars, Venusians on Venus, and when Mars and Venus die, let us go to the other solar systems, to Alpha Centauri, to wherever we manage to go, and let us forget the Earth. Let us forget our solar system and our body, the form it used to have, let us become no matter what, lichens, insects, balls of fire, no matter what, all that matters is that somehow life should continue, and the knowledge of what we were and what we did and learned: the knowledge of Homer and Michelangelo, of Galileo, Leonardo, Shakespeare, of Einstein! And the gift of life will continue."
So he said, father. And to me it sounded like a most beautiful prayer....

- Ray Bradbury, as recounted by Oriana Fallaci in If the Sun Dies

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Columbia

A day after