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Pammy
| | Posted on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 09:50 am: | 
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space shuttle Columbia possibly destroyed before landing. |
Ccryder
| | Posted on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 10:39 am: |
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This brings back the feelings of Challenger, and the cold shivers we all experienced that fateful day.
God speed to the crew and my prayers for them and to their families and dears one's.
This will be a long day for many people.
Neil S. |
Jim_Witt
| | Posted on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 11:40 am: |
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Another sad day in American history. God bless the crew and their families!
-JW |
Bluzm2
| | Posted on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 11:45 am: |
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As I flipped on the TV upon waking this morning I felt that same sicking feeling in the pit of my stomach I felt when I saw the initial pictures of the Challenger explosion.
These folks have been my "heros" since I was a little boy.
I cried when Apollo 1 went up in flames the 60's, I didn't really know as I was quite young but I cried none the less.
I cried when the Challenger blew up in the 80's.
I'm now sitting here at my keyboard with tears in my eyes. This sucks....
Some will say the price is too high, the loss of life is not worth it. We must stop this foolishness.
Will we? I think not as it is in our nature. We are a curious species, we must explore and discover.
We will dig and dig until we find out why this happened. We will fix the problem and begin exploring and discovering again because that is what we do.
God speed to the Columbia 7. Prayers and condolences to their family and friends.
I have to stop now, I having trouble seeing the monitor.
Brad |
Blake
| | Posted on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 12:40 pm: |
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This is indeed an unfortunate and heartbreaking event, but we have far more numerous great and uplifting achievments in our history. I mourn the loss of the brave crew of Columbia and the inevitable temporary setback to our manned space program. I refuse to become fatalistic and depressed due to an accident. I look forward to future mission successes and our continuing exploration of space. American and allied astronauts number among my personal list of heroes.
God bless the crew of Space Shuttle Columbia Flight #28 STS-107
Heroes
Quote: STS107-S-002 (October 2001) --- The seven STS-107 crew members take a break from their training regimen to pose for the traditional crew portrait. Seated in front are astronauts Rick D. Husband (left), mission commander; Kalpana Chawla, mission specialist; and William C. McCool, pilot. Standing are (from the left) astronauts David M. Brown, Laurel B. Clark, and Michael P. Anderson, all mission specialists; and Ilan Ramon, payload specialist representing the Israeli Space Agency.
Quote:NASA STATEMENT ON LOSS OF COMMUNICATIONS WITH COLUMBIA
A Space Shuttle contingency has been declared in Mission Control, Houston, as a result of the loss of communication with the Space Shuttle Columbia at approximately 9 a.m. EST Saturday as it descended toward a landing at the Kennedy Space Center, Fla. It was scheduled to touchdown at 9:16 a.m. EST.
Communication and tracking of the shuttle was lost at 9 a.m. EST at an altitude of about 203,000 feet in the area above north central Texas. At the time communications were lost. The shuttle was traveling approximately 12,500 miles per hour (Mach 18). No communication and tracking information were received in Mission Control after that time.
Search and rescue teams in the Dallas-Fort Worth and in portions of East Texas have been alerted. Any debris that is located in the area that may be related to the Space Shuttle contingency should be avoided and may be hazardous as a result of toxic propellants used aboard the shuttle. The location of any possible debris should immediately be reported to local authorities.
Flight controllers in Mission Control have secured all information, notes and data pertinent to today's entry and landing by Space Shuttle Columbia and continue to methodically proceed through contingency plans.
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Blake
| | Posted on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 12:49 pm: |
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If anyone runs across the moron reporter roaming Manhattan asking what people think about the terrorist attack on the Space Shuttle, please forcefully and with great vigor and velocity burry your fist into his gut for me. |
Blake
| | Posted on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 01:02 pm: |
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From the NASA site...
Quote:Columbia (OV-102)
Background
Columbia, the oldest orbiter in the Shuttle fleet, is named after the Boston, Massachusetts based sloop captained by American Robert Gray. On May 11, 1792, Gray and his crew maneuvered the Columbia past the dangerous sandbar at the mouth of a river extending more than 1,000 miles through what is today south-eastern British Columbia, Canada, and the Washington-Oregon border. The river was later named after the ship. Gray also led Columbia and its crew on the first American circumnavigation of the globe, carrying a cargo of otter skins to Canton, China, and then returning to Boston.
Other sailing ships have further enhanced the luster of the name Columbia. The first U.S. Navy ship to circle the globe bore that title, as did the command module for Apollo 11, the first lunar landing mission.
On a more directly patriotic note, "Columbia" is considered to be the feminine personification of the United States. The name is derived from that of another famous explorer, Christopher Columbus.
The spaceship Columbia has continued the pioneering legacy of its forebears, becoming the first Space Shuttle to fly into Earth orbit in 1981. Four sister ships joined the fleet over the next 10 years: Challenger, arriving in 1982 but destroyed four years later; Discovery, 1983; Atlantis, 1985; and Endeavour, built as a replacement for Challenger, 1991. A test vehicle, the Enterprise, was used for suborbital approach and landing tests and did not fly in space. The names of Columbia's sister ships each boast their own illustrious pedigree.
In the day-to-day world of Shuttle operations and processing, Space Shuttle orbiters go by a more prosaic designation. Columbia is commonly refered to as OV-102, for Orbiter Vehicle-102. Empty Weight was 158,289 lbs at rollout and 178,000 lbs with main engines installed.
Upgrades and Features
Columbia was the first on-line orbiter to undergo the scheduled inspection and retrofit program. It was transported August 10, 1991, after its completion of mission STS-40, to prime Shuttle contractor Rockwell International's Palmdale, California assembly plant. The oldest orbiter in the fleet underwent approximately 50 modifications, including the addition of carbon brakes, drag chute, improved nose wheel steering, removal of development flight instrumentation and an enhancement of its thermal protection system. The orbiter returned to KSC February 9, 1992 to begin processing for mission STS-50 in June of that year.
On October 8, 1994, Columbia was transported to Palmdale California for its first ODMP. This orbiter modification and refurbishment time is expected to take approximately 6 months. (Reference KSC Press Release 113-94 and Shuttle Status Report 10/10/94)
On September 24, 1999, Columbia was transported to Palmdale California for its second ODMP. While in California, workers will perform more than 100 modifications on the vehicle. Columbia will be the second orbiter outfitted with the multi-functional electronic display system (MEDS) or "glass cockpit". Last year, Shuttle Atlantis had the full-color, flat-panel displays installed on its flight deck during an OMDP. The new system improves crew interaction with the orbiter during flight and reduces the high cost of maintaining the outdated electromechanical cockpit displays currently onboard. (Reference KSC Press Release 74-99)
Construction Milestones
07/26/72 Contract Award
03/27/75 Start long lead fabrication aft fuselage
11/17/75 Start long-lead fabrication of crew module
06/28/76 Start assembly of crew module
09/13/76 Start structural assembly of aft-fuselage
12/13/76 Start assembly upper forward fuselage
01/03/77 Start assembly vertical stabilizer
08/26/77 Wings arrive at Palmdale from Grumman
10/28/77 Lower forward fuselage on dock, Palmdale
11/07/77 Start of Final Assembly
02/24/78 Body flap on dock, Palmdale
04/28/78 Forward payload bay doors on dock, Palmdale
05/26/78 Upper forward fuselage mate
07/07/78 Complete mate forward and aft payload bay doors
09/11/78 Complete forward RCS
02/03/79 Complete combined systems test, Palmdale
02/16/79 Airlock on dock, Palmdale
03/05/79 Complete postcheckout
03/08/79 Closeout inspection, Final Acceptance Palmdale
03/08/79 Rollout from Palmdale to Dryden (38 miles)
03/12/79 Overland transport from Palmdale to Edwards
03/20/79 SCA Ferry Flight from DFRF to Bigs AFB, Texas
03/22/79 SCA Ferry flight from Bigs AFB to Kelly AFB, Texas
03/24/79 SCA Ferry flight from Kelly AFB to Eglin AFB, Florida
03/24/79 SCA Ferry flight from Eglin, AFB to KSC
11/03/79 Auxiliary Power Unit hot fire tests, OPF KSC
12/16/79 Orbiter integrated test start, KSC
01/14/80 Orbiter integrated test complete, KSC
02/20/81 Flight Readiness Firing
04/12/81 First Flight (STS-1)
Columbia's Flights to date:
01. STS-1 (04/12/81)
02. STS-2 (11/12/81)
03. STS-3 (03/22/82)
04. STS-4 (06/27/82)
05. STS-5 (11/11/82)
06. STS-9 (11/28/83)
07. 61-C (01/12/86)
08. STS-28 (08/08/89)
09. STS-32 (01/09/90)
10. STS-35 (12/02/90)
11. STS-40 (06/05/91)
12. STS-50 (06/25/92)
13. STS-52 (10/22/92)
14. STS-55 (04/26/93)
15. STS-58 (10/18/93)
16. STS-62 (3/4/94)
17. STS-65 (7/8/94)
18. STS-73 (10/20/95)
19. STS-75 (2/22/96)
20. STS-78 (6/20/96)
21. STS-80 (11/19/96)
22. STS-83 (04/04/97)
23. STS-94 (07/01/97)
24. STS-87 (11/19/97)
25. STS-90 (4/13/98)
26. STS-93 (7/23/99)
To OMDP (Palmdale) 9/23/99 (Reference KSC Press Release 74-99)
27. STS-109 (3/1/02)
28. STS-107 (1/16/03 - Crew and Vehicle lost during landing 2/1/03)
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Mightymouse
| | Posted on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 01:09 pm: |
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Without a doubt, astronauts are the ultimate pioneers. I cannot even begin to imagine the discipline, confidence, skill, and bravery these people possess that allows them to travel beyond our atmosphere and back.
Truely inspiring. May they always be remembered. |
Dynarider
| | Posted on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 01:37 pm: |
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Hopefully they will discover the cause of this horrible accident. The Challenger disaster in 86 nearly ended the space shuttle program, hopefully this will not end it.
God speed to the astronauts who were on the mission. |
Bads1
| | Posted on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 02:37 pm: |
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God bless all the families of these hero's.It's a very sad day in Racine WI. our city was very excited for Laurel B. Clark and her safe return.It really hits home alittle differently when its someone from your home town. |
Court
| | Posted on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 03:00 pm: |
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May our prayers be with the familes, around the world, of the brave crew of Columbia as well as all of those touched by this tragedy.
I have a special family connection with an Uncle who has been involved with the Space Program since it's inception.
My uncle always sent letters from the deck of the recovery carriers and each week I received the NASA scientific releases.
I recall the excitement when his wife and children came to stay with us when he went into quatantine a month prior to the first moon landing. He was aboard the carrier, locked in a sealed enviroment, waiting to do the physical exams of the crew upon the return.
Uncle Craig's most infamous moment was when, as am amatuer pilot, he unwittingly contributed to some anxiety on the first shuttle mission. As the press waited, asking why they crew had not yet emerged, little did they know that the good Doctor was seizing the moment to play in the pilot's seat.
Today, as Chief of Space Medicine for NASA, he is preparing for part of his job he hates. May God bless the souls and family of all those involved.
Court
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Cowboy
| | Posted on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 03:26 pm: |
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I just returned from a ride approx. 30 Mi. from my home, where a piece of the shuttle fell. It was a very sad ride home.
God bless them all. |
Jim_Witt
| | Posted on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 03:28 pm: |
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Blake,
Read this puppy.
Sad,
-JW:>| |
Hootowl
| | Posted on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 04:07 pm: |
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This hits pretty close to home for me. My wife works for Spacehab, who built the Research Double Module that was flying on this mission. She's at work right now trying to figure out what to do next. She went to the launch last month in Florida, as she was coordinating the student science experiments that were taken up. This hit her pretty hard.
We (the free peoples of the world who are a part of the US and International Space Program) will not let this stop us.
Like I said after Challenger exploded: I'd go up tomorrow if they'd let me. |
M2me
| | Posted on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 09:15 pm: |
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Just last night I was watching this crew on the NASA channel. They were doing one of those videos where they show you around the shuttle. Kalpana Chawla was rehydrating some food, Ramon was floating and spinning around. So, when I woke up this morning and saw this news, I was totally shocked.
It's just a reminder that a lot of things in life that are challenging and worthwhile are also dangerous. Trajedies will happen but we can't be afraid and hide in the basement. If they'd let me go up I'd have only three words to say, "Strap me in". |
Rudebike
| | Posted on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 11:28 pm: |
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Yes, and God Bless the surviving family members. Astronauts represent the height of American achievement and national character. We went to space and still do so, taking other nationalities with us.
Space hasen't seen the last of American astronauts. And this will not end the space program either. It truly is a major part of our national identity. |
Bomber
| | Posted on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 08:57 am: |
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God Speed to these brave men and womean . . . I know this won't end the effort, that we'll continue the work they've started (which is the best tribute to their sacrifice), and that the folks at NASA and their associates will find the problem, lick it, and send more brave people into that frontier . . . .
kinda wishing some of the debris might have landed elsewhere, after reading the piece Jim posted above, and done some good . . . .. |
Joey
| | Posted on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 09:41 am: |
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It will happen again. Will that stop us? Hell no! I don't remember who offered the quote, but someone was once asked about the dangers of space shuttle missions. The quote went something like this: "It's like a butterfly bolted to a bullet."
I've travelled the world, and seen things and places most people will never see, before I was even old enough to drink in my own country. These who lost their lives got to go somewhere that's so much cooler than anything I could imagine. I, too, would not hesitate to go up in the next trip. My wife, however, probably would not let me. |
Ara
| | Posted on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 10:18 am: |
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In a statement released by the families of the crew of the Columbia, they made mention of the lost crews of the Challenger and Apollo 1. That was very gracious, I think.
So as we remember the crew of Columbia (COL Rick Husband, CMDR William McCool, LTC Michael Anderson, Dr. Kalpana Chawla, CAPT David Brown, Dr. Laurel Clark, and COL Ilan Ramon, please also remember the ten that went on before:
Apollo 1 - 27 Jan 1967: Gus Grissom, Ed White, Roger Chaffee.
Challenger - 28 Jan 1986: Dick Scobee, Mike Smith, Greg Jarvis, Ron McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Judy Resnik, Christa McAuliffe.
GODSPEED TO THEM ALL. |
Whatever
| | Posted on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 10:45 am: |
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All,
My sister was hired in the wake of the Challenger disaster as an Engineer at one of the contractors for NASA. I think it is safe to say all who are invovled in the Space Shuttle Program are affected deeply by this tragedy, as well as all in our country and those others involved around the world. Think of the courage it takes to be a member of the International Space Station during this event. Say a prayer for them too and all the staff and families involved in getting them home safe.
I went to see one lift-off on Cape Canaveral a few years after my sister was hired (around 1987 or so). It was a night launch... and the sky was quite cloudy. I think a safe bet would be that we were all holding our breath as the Shuttle emitted the brightest burning fire I have ever seen, like some surreal roman candle set off by GOD (him/her)self... The entire night sky lit up like day as the flames hit the cloud cover. And I knew, I was priveleged to have witnessed one true miracle of the 20th century.
We are all affected by this loss... and hopefully we shall continue on as poineers in the last great frontier.
Charlotte |
Sarodude
| | Posted on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 12:13 pm: |
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Saturday morning Loli and I woke up early to shower, gulp breakfast, print some stuff for my mom's chocolate business, and head out for a ride.
After drying off from the shower I reached into the drawer and pulled out a black NASA t shirt - TOTALLY unaware that there was even to be a shuttle landing that morning.
Part way through printing off the edible frosting sheets, my mom called and said that they've lost contact with Columbia. I turned on the news. It wasn't till later that day when I realized I was wearing the NASA shirt. Interesting.
As much as I was bothered by the mishap, I had to think one thing... Aside from the fact that all the astronauts knew very well all of the risks involved, what's more improtant is that they got to what was likely the pinnacle of each of their lives. They died at the top of their game.
Following right behind them in the next manned space mission will be another crew knowing well the fate of the Columbia crew - and they'll all be there 'cause that's what they want.
I know someone who's religious beliefs call this life on Earth 'The Game'. Neat guy. Anyway, if I were to ask him about this, I imagine he'd say that the 7 astronauts are in 'The Bliss' now and enjoying how well they played the game.
-Saro |
Sparky
| | Posted on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 03:27 pm: |
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As one who worked on the Space Shuttle Program, I am personally saddened by the loss of the Columbia and its crew. Some of my fondest memories were of working on the orbiters at the Downey & Palmdale plants, hearing the twin sonic booms and seeing Columbia as it was landing at Edwards, and meeting the astronauts.
It was an exciting time for me, in essence turning science fiction into reality, marveling at the concept that these 'space trucks' would soon be transporting people into space for the betterment of mankind. I can't imagine how satisfying and exciting the astronauts' job is for them. Occasionally they would visit the plant for a ceremony and do a walkthrough, meeting the workers. It was important for us to realize there was the human element involved in the hardware. They truly were celebrities.
Godspeed brave crew of Columbia, you will always be remembered.
Sparky |
Newfie_Buell
| | Posted on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 04:18 pm: |
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My thoughts go out the the crew and families of those involved. |
Prof_Stack
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 04, 2003 - 08:48 pm: |
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Godspeed to all the crew of Columbia
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Blake
| | Posted on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 03:59 am: |
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Prof/Norm,
You may want to check the meaning of "Godspeed". I think you mean "God Bless."
From the CMRA Forum at http://www.cmraracing.com
Quote:Eric Heddles, a CMRA member who works for NASA, sent me the following email and asked that it be posted prior to this weekend's practice at OHR. Please read this and take it seriously. Thanks.
Brooks
Brooks, for some reason I cannot post on the CMRA message board. Could you
post the following for me?
In case you haven't been watching the news, one of the arrests made for
people walking off with shuttle debris was in Henderson. I work for NASA
and have spent some time on the debris hot line that you all have seen on
TV. With the upcoming practice session coming this weekend, you might see
some debris at the track or the surrounding area. Obviously if it is on the
track you'd want to move it off. If it is humanly possible, take a picture
of it with a dollar bill next to it (for measuring purposes) before you move
it. I can't condone you moving anything you find but I realize that you
can't practice with shards of whatever on the track. Most if not all of the
hydrazine (propellant) should have been burned off by now so the handling of
the material is reasonably safe, but I cannot guarantee that. If it must be
moved, use a glove or a bag. Also, since there is a phone at the track,
call 281-483-3388 to report the debris - you can call collect. Since
answers are still being formed, any piece could serve as vital evidence so
please leave it there and someone will come out and get it. It is a federal
offense to remove the debris and as mentioned earlier, people are being
arrested for that. It may seem inconsequential but it isn't. The FBI is
going after the online auctions (not just Ebay) and classified ads in
newspapers and busting these people as well.
So please keep an eye out for anything that looks like it is reasonably
recent on the ground and doesn't appear like a bike part. Your help would
be greatly, greatly appreciated.
If you take photos of the debris, please send it via email to:
columbiaimages@nasa.gov or you can mail hardcopies to:
NASA Johnson Space Center
Columbia MIT/Mail Code JA17
2101 NASA Rd. One
Houston, TX 77058-3963
Again, thanks for your cooperation.
Eric Heddles
That's my local racetrack. Kinda makes me realize what is and is not all that important in life. Next track day, I'll try to set a new best lap ever in honor of the crew. |
Josh
| | Posted on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 11:57 am: |
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Don't know how long the link will be active but here's a pic and here's an interview with a cousin of mine who does astronaut training for NASA, |
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