Space Shuttle 'Columbia" has Exploded

02-01-2003, 10:31 AM

The United States of America's orbiter known at the Columbia has exploded during reentree. The Columbia, which I believe to be the oldest of the orbiters still in use, has been used for 20 years. It has broken up over Dallas and citizens are advised not to go near and wreckage.

mikeytex · 02-01-2003, 10:49 AM

This is sad. I remember the Challenger.............

airbelgium · 02-01-2003, 10:50 AM

Yep, just saw the pictures on CNN. Looks like it totally fell apart during the descend. No chance of survivors.
My toughts are with the families of the 7 crewmembers. R.I.P

AlphaSigOU · 02-01-2003, 10:50 AM

If we die, we want people to accept it. The conquest of space is worth the risk of life."

-- Lt. Col. Virgil I. (Gus) Grissom, at a press conference shorthly before his death in the Apollo 1 fire, 1967.

PH-LKK · 02-01-2003, 10:52 AM

"Broken up" during reentry is probably more accurate. This is indeed a sad day for humanity. Accidents do happen, and are all the more likely to be fatal in the context of high-risk ventures like the space program. But this never seems to make it easier to accept or understand. My heart goes out to the families of the astronauts and the members of NASA.

David

Herpa2008 · 02-01-2003, 11:09 AM

A very terrible tragedy. My condolences to the friends and family of those lost.

MarinerOne · 02-01-2003, 12:21 PM

Truly a sad day for the American Space program. Ironically, it is quite close to the anniversary of the Challenger incident, which was on January 28, 1986. In addition, the Apollo spacecraft fire that killed three occured on January 27, 1967. Very bizarre to say the least. In addition, this was the 113th shuttle mission and the first time an Israeli astronaut has flown in space.

On January 16, shortly after Columbia lifted off, a piece of insulating foam on its external fuel tank came off and was believed to have hit the left wing of the shuttle. Leroy Cain, the lead flight director in Mission Control, assured reporters Friday that engineers had concluded that any damage to the wing was considered minor and posed no safety hazard. But it's hard to say that this did not compromise the structural integrity of the shuttle. We'll leave it up to the experts to solve this one, as it will be a long and tedious investigation to say the least.

My thoughts and prayers go out to those who lost their lives and to their families. We're very proud of you!

Lancer72 · 02-01-2003, 12:41 PM

This is really really bad. I was shocked when I heard this in the news. My condolences are with the victims and theis families of this tragedy.

Tjames · 02-01-2003, 01:40 PM

This is truly an awful event, local news reports are saying the some of the debrie has been loacted near my officce..

MarinerOne · 02-01-2003, 02:33 PM

Here's an article from Time.com magazine with some possible explanations as to the cause.

Time Online Article

MarinerOne · 02-27-2003, 01:12 PM

Folks, the Orlando Sentinel, from all of the sites I have scoured, has the best information on the Columbia tragedy than any I have seen on the Net.

Please check out the graphics, and detailed statistical analyses in these reports, article, graphics.

Orlando Sentinel Shuttle Information

AlphaSigOU · 02-27-2003, 02:05 PM

You might also want to check out Florida Today, the newspaper of the Space Coast - they also have an outstanding space section.
(www.flatoday.com/space)

MarinerOne · 02-27-2003, 02:12 PM

Thanks Chuck!

02-01-2003, 10:31 AM	#1
Jetsetter Guest Posts: n/a	Space Shuttle 'Columbia" has Exploded The United States of America's orbiter known at the Columbia has exploded during reentree. The Columbia, which I believe to be the oldest of the orbiters still in use, has been used for 20 years. It has broken up over Dallas and citizens are advised not to go near and wreckage.

02-01-2003, 10:49 AM	#2
mikeytex Insane Collector Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Alvin, Texas (Nolan's back!!!) Age: 48 Posts: 1,172	This is sad. I remember the Challenger............. __________________ Certified Jellybean Addict!!!

02-01-2003, 10:50 AM	#3
airbelgium Senior Collector Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Lanaken-Belgium Age: 33 Posts: 437	Yep, just saw the pictures on CNN. Looks like it totally fell apart during the descend. No chance of survivors. My toughts are with the families of the 7 crewmembers. R.I.P __________________ Ive "Aviation Safety is never something you get to; It's always something you're striving toward"

02-01-2003, 10:50 AM	#4
AlphaSigOU Insane Collector Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: Wylie, Texas Age: 44 Posts: 1,419	If we die, we want people to accept it. The conquest of space is worth the risk of life." -- Lt. Col. Virgil I. (Gus) Grissom, at a press conference shorthly before his death in the Apollo 1 fire, 1967. __________________ *Chuck Corway (AlphaSigOU)* *Causa latet vis est notissima* -- the cause is hidden, the results are well known. James Bond: "I'll take the full odds on the ten, two hundred on the hard way, the limit on all the numbers, two hundred and fifty on the eleven, thank you very much." Plenty O'Toole: "Hey! You've played this game before!" James Bond: "Just once." *REMEMBER THE ALAMO!!! REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR!!! REMEMBER SEPTEMBER 11!!!!*

02-01-2003, 10:52 AM	#5
PH-LKK Centaurus Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Fairfax, VA Age: 41 Posts: 576	"Broken up" during reentry is probably more accurate. This is indeed a sad day for humanity. Accidents do happen, and are all the more likely to be fatal in the context of high-risk ventures like the space program. But this never seems to make it easier to accept or understand. My heart goes out to the families of the astronauts and the members of NASA. David __________________ "I know you believe you understand what it is you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what I said is not what I meant." - RMN My Collection · My Wish List · My "Dream" List Models for Sale or Trade

02-01-2003, 11:09 AM	#6
Herpa2008 Collector Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Watertown NY/ART Posts: 144	A very terrible tragedy. My condolences to the friends and family of those lost.

02-01-2003, 12:21 PM	#7
MarinerOne Insane Collector Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: SAN Age: 40 Posts: 1,355	My Condolences and Prayers Truly a sad day for the American Space program. Ironically, it is quite close to the anniversary of the Challenger incident, which was on January 28, 1986. In addition, the Apollo spacecraft fire that killed three occured on January 27, 1967. Very bizarre to say the least. In addition, this was the 113th shuttle mission and the first time an Israeli astronaut has flown in space. On January 16, shortly after Columbia lifted off, a piece of insulating foam on its external fuel tank came off and was believed to have hit the left wing of the shuttle. Leroy Cain, the lead flight director in Mission Control, assured reporters Friday that engineers had concluded that any damage to the wing was considered minor and posed no safety hazard. But it's hard to say that this did not compromise the structural integrity of the shuttle. We'll leave it up to the experts to solve this one, as it will be a long and tedious investigation to say the least. My thoughts and prayers go out to those who lost their lives and to their families. We're very proud of you!

02-01-2003, 12:41 PM	#8
Lancer72 Senior Collector Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dortmund, Germany Age: 24 Posts: 264	This is really really bad. I was shocked when I heard this in the news. My condolences are with the victims and theis families of this tragedy. __________________ For everyone who wants to contact me: raveronalk@hotmail.com

02-01-2003, 01:40 PM	#9
Tjames Collector Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 80	This is truly an awful event, local news reports are saying the some of the debrie has been loacted near my officce..

02-01-2003, 02:33 PM	#10
MarinerOne Insane Collector Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: SAN Age: 40 Posts: 1,355	Here's an article from Time.com magazine with some possible explanations as to the cause. Time Online Article

02-27-2003, 01:12 PM	#11
MarinerOne Insane Collector Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: SAN Age: 40 Posts: 1,355	Orlando Sentinel Shuttle Information Folks, the Orlando Sentinel, from all of the sites I have scoured, has the best information on the Columbia tragedy than any I have seen on the Net. Please check out the graphics, and detailed statistical analyses in these reports, article, graphics. Orlando Sentinel Shuttle Information

02-27-2003, 02:05 PM	#12
AlphaSigOU Insane Collector Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: Wylie, Texas Age: 44 Posts: 1,419	You might also want to check out Florida Today, the newspaper of the Space Coast - they also have an outstanding space section. (www.flatoday.com/space) __________________ *Chuck Corway (AlphaSigOU)* *Causa latet vis est notissima* -- the cause is hidden, the results are well known. James Bond: "I'll take the full odds on the ten, two hundred on the hard way, the limit on all the numbers, two hundred and fifty on the eleven, thank you very much." Plenty O'Toole: "Hey! You've played this game before!" James Bond: "Just once." *REMEMBER THE ALAMO!!! REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR!!! REMEMBER SEPTEMBER 11!!!!*

02-27-2003, 02:12 PM	#13
MarinerOne Insane Collector Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: SAN Age: 40 Posts: 1,355	SHUTTLE RESOURCES Thanks Chuck!

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