Shuttle Columbia breaks up during re-enry
aka Capt PPRuNe
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Shuttle Missing (Breaking News)
Mission control have had a total loss of communication with the space shuttle Columbia since 1400 UTC, just before it was due to land at Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
CNN are running shots of the shuttle at high altitude over Texas with a contrail and several smaller pieces also contrailing.
Pure speculation but pictures show what appears to be a very high speed, in-flight break up of Columbia. It doesn't look good.
Break-up occured at an altitude of approximately 200,000ft and a speed of over 12,000 mph.
CNN are running shots of the shuttle at high altitude over Texas with a contrail and several smaller pieces also contrailing.
Pure speculation but pictures show what appears to be a very high speed, in-flight break up of Columbia. It doesn't look good.
Break-up occured at an altitude of approximately 200,000ft and a speed of over 12,000 mph.
Last edited by Danny; 1st Feb 2003 at 13:44.
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Space Shuttle down?
Just heard on CNN that Mission Control in Houston has lost contact with the Space Shuttle over Texas. It was due to land at 0916 EST. Hope things are not as ominous as the reporters are making it out to be.
Shuttle breakup
Was watching on NASA TV via the internet, last comms. at 0800 (1400 gmt). Search and rescue crews in the Dallas FW area have been scrambled. Public bieng to told to avoid any debris due to toxic chemicals etc. This is going to be NASA's darkest day since the Challenger accident.
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We have the NASA channel on our cable system. It's such a shock to see the break-up this morning, after having watched the astronauts, direct from the shuttle last night, during this mission. May their souls be at peace.
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I dont believe this... 45 mins ago I was reading this:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/w...00/2643109.stm
Then I go next door and put on the TV...
R1, in shock
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/w...00/2643109.stm
Then I go next door and put on the TV...
R1, in shock
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This is as tragic as any disaster, aviation or otherwise. However, its impact is greater given that the entire space program, and especially the Shuttle, epitomises all that is great in human endeavour. In the context of these uncertain times, we are all, no doubt, wondering if this is more than a tragic accident (since this was first posted, the US Government discounted terrorist involvement).
Condolences to the families of all involved.
Condolences to the families of all involved.
Last edited by Bus429; 1st Feb 2003 at 15:19.
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I just logged into my news service and saw the bad news. At first I thought it was joke but realized, yes it happened again.
God Bless the the flight crew, their families and the shuttle operations team.
God Bless the the flight crew, their families and the shuttle operations team.
Eyewitness Account from Palestine, Texas
From CBC Radio:
Wide vapor trail,
long duration of tornado like sound,
houses shaking
Announcer mentioned "breakup at six times speed of sound"
Wide vapor trail,
long duration of tornado like sound,
houses shaking
Announcer mentioned "breakup at six times speed of sound"
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http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/nasatv/index.html
The link is very slow; I wouldn't be surprised if they have taken the service off air at the moment.
The link is very slow; I wouldn't be surprised if they have taken the service off air at the moment.
Location of Palestine, Texas
Approx. 100 mi. SE Dallas.
Approx another 200 mi. to Gulf Coast over some swamp and bayou country.
As with meteors, impact sites can be considerably past sightings.
Approx another 200 mi. to Gulf Coast over some swamp and bayou country.
As with meteors, impact sites can be considerably past sightings.