Airliners.net

I woke up this morning to "the shuttle crashed, one of my friends was on board". That was my friends mom who said that. She and her husband went to college and worked with Kalpana Chawla. They were talking about how they used to eat dinner together and things like that. She was from a rich, high Caste family in India. They weren't sure if she was still married to her husband or not but if so what a horrible loss to him and all the others families.

Erik in MSP

I feel so sad hearing this... The beauty of this snowy day in Belgium is completely gone after hearing the Columbia news  

My thoughts are with all involved people...

FDC 3/0861 ZHU LA.. FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS FORT POLK, LA.
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
PURSUANT TO 14 CFR SECTION 91.137(A)(1) TEMPORARY FLIGHT
RESTRICTIONS ARE IN EFFECT DUE TO SEARCH AND RESCUE EFFORTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA ACCIDENT. ONLY RELIEF AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF SEADS (SOUTHEAST AIR DEFENSE SECTOR) ARE AUTHORIZED IN THE AIRSPACE AT AND BELOW 3000 FEET MSL WITHIN A 60 NAUTICAL MILE RADIUS OF 310642N/0931305W AND THE POLK /FXU/ VORTAC. SEADS MCC 850-283-5207 IS IN CHARGE OF THE OPERATION. DE RIDDER /DRI/ AFSS 337-460-2510 IS THE FAA COORDINATION FACILITY.

Boeing is to have a press conference about the tradegy.

You could see it @ MSNBC.com

The circus continues.....

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=578&e=3&cid=578&u=/nm/20030201/ts_nm/shuttle_iraq_dc

you wanna see circus? do a search for "space shuttle columbia" on ebay and check out the outrageous bids on space shuttle columbia items....I just saw a Columbia belt buckle going for a few hundred dollars.

oh it gets better....just saw a listing on ebay for "Space Shuttle Columbia Debris!" Fortunately ebay has already removed the item as it now an invalid auction #.

Terrible tragedy.

Let's hope the cause is located in the near future so that everyone involved in space exploration can learn their lessons regarding safety.

I was shocked when I heard the news...

My deepest condolences to all who is involved...    

/Frederic

I had just barely woken up and heard a big boom! My shades were shut at the time so I thought it must have been thunder. My parents(who already were up) thought it must have been a wreck.

blink

I guess...one way to look at it is, they died doing what they love..doing what they're passionate about.


Peace be with them,

FSP

Hail Columbia!

I did an Ebay search for 'Space Shuttle Columbia',

No less than 93 items were listed within the first two hours of this tragedy, accounting for over 50% of the sale items.....disturbing.


Matt

My in-laws live in East Texas. They said that they heard a loud boom which shook the house. This is horrible, absolutely horrible.

Terrible news, tragic for the loved ones of this brave crew, and the larger NASA family.
And brave they were, space travel IS dangerous, the Astronauts know this well.
But, air travel was dangerous a couple of generations ago.

I feel a much like I did on 25th July 2000, and 28th January 1986.

We had some small links with NASA, 5 years ago United Space Alliance came to see how we maintain a tiny fleet of specialized vehicles, they helped with questions about tyre specs in the aftermath of the AF crash and sent their good wishes when we relaunched in November 2001.

I hope that once the causes are found, NASA can relaunch again.
A Shuttle replacement is needed, it was before today, but that is not informed by speculation of today's terrible event, just the need to make spaceflight cheaper and yes safer.
Stopping now would be like stopping jetliners after the Comet 1 crashes, imagine if NASA had not carried on after the Apollo 1 fire.
Air travel safety today has been bought with the lives of many test pilots, most of whomn are not well known, who died pushing the frontiers, for us all.

I will not speculate on the possible causes, if I had been on here in 2000, I'm sure that I would have got very cross at ill-informed speculation of the loss of F-BTSC, there is quite enough of that in the media anyway.
Sure I have my own thoughts, but I'm a million miles from being any kind of expert on the Shuttle and it is so early to try to.

I hope the USA can carry on their great work at NASA, despite their obvious sorrow, also condolences to Israel and to India, as one of the female Astronauts was Indian born and I read only yesterday of the pride and inspiration she had given to the nation.

Tragic news!! My condolences to the victim's families and friends.

Military guarding all wreckage sites here in Texas. Residents of Nacagdoches reporting loud thunderous booms lasting for approx. 2 min. Woman called 911 thinking that a plane had crashed at a local airport. 911 reported no such thing.

UAL747

This is most tragic and my condolences go to all the families involved.

At least they died happy quickly and did not suffer much.

 

I hate waking up and get on those bad news, this look like a curse it's unbelievable!!!! :;(
This is a really sad day and I wish all the courage the family victims.

Lamyl

My wife and I had just dropped off my 7 year-old son for testing, and my wife observed the contrail as we drove south on the Dallas North Tollway; she thought nothing of it and I did not even notice.

After we picked him up at 11:30, I told my son (who has always, with that innocence of childhood, said he wanted to be an astronaut when he grows up) about the tragedy. A few minutes later, as we sat at lunch and watched CNN's coverage, my boy remarked, "At least they got to see space."

I think he's smarter than we've given him credit for.

And he says he still wants to be an astronaut when he grows up.

God keep those brave souls.

I woke up this morning to "the shuttle crashed, one of my friends was on board". That was my friends mom who said that. She and her husband went to college and worked with Kalpana Chawla. They were talking about how they used to eat dinner together and things like that. She was from a rich, high Caste family in India. They weren't sure if she was still married to her husband or not but if so what a horrible loss to him and all the others families.

Ms.Chawla was married to Frenchman Jean Pierre Harrison, according to Indian news websites. She was hardly from a 'rich high-caste family'. Her parents emigrated penniless to India when the country was partitioned in 1947 into India and Pakistan, since they were Hindus, and she grew up in a small town named Karnal, near New Delhi. She barely had enough money to get her through college, though she ultimately gained a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from U.Colorado-Boulder, and went on to inspite a billion of her countrymen after being selected for shuttle missions STS-87 in 1997 and the ill-fated STS-107. There's a very moving article on her at the Indian news website rediff.com:

http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/feb/01spec.htm

NASA reporting problems and loss of temperature and pressure sensors on the left wing and left side of the aircraft. Off-scale readings and total loss of sensor readings.

UAL747

Shuttle altitude was 208,135ft. traveling over 18mach at time of loss.

UAL747

I hope people honor these heros and i hope the Nasa space program moves on, god bless them all

CNN was listing it's speed as "Mock" 18 when it broke up. Who the hell do they have working over there?

Found out while I was at work today, and I'm still in shock. It didn't dawn on me that I didn't hear the twin sonic booms when it was supposed to come home. I've seen so many launches, and have heard it come home so many times it's almost routine. I watched the launch on Jan 16th from my backyard, who would have thought we wouldn't see them again? R.I.P crew of Columbia.

I heard about the tragedy a few minutes ago......terrible, that's all I have to say at the moment....

My thougts go out to all the relatives of the astronauts involved in this tragedy.......

Last year I planed to go to Florida and see the Columbia's launch that was changed many times and finaly it was on March 1st. I bought the ticket by internet and finaly did not come.
View Large View Medium

Photo © Brandon Sciame
I remember the song written by Rush for the Columbia Space Shuttle more than 20 years ago.Will remember all the 7 crew members and this great sheep.

Received two similar EAS messages here in San Antonio. Here is one of them..


BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
CIVIL EMERGENCY MESSAGE
Texas Division of Emergency Management Austin TX relayed by National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio TX 107 PM CST Sat Feb 1 2003


THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS BEING TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE
Texas Department of Public Safety.

...SPACE SHUTTLE DEBRIS...

CITIZENS SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM SPACE SHUTTLE DEBRIS AND REPORT
LOCATION OF DEBRIS TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. AGAIN...CITIZENS SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM SPACE SHUTTLE DEBRIS.

May the rest of their journey be peaceful.

God bless them and their families.



(I need a drink. This is too much.)

>>>Received two similar EAS messages here in San Antonio. Here is one of them..

Those electronic freeway road signs here in the DFW area all saying pretty much the same thing...

Just got an auto-email from NTSB saying that they were going to assist in the investigation per NASA's request, and had personnel enroute to the NASA command post that's been set up at Barksdale AFB (KBAD) near Shreveport, LA.

A good source of information this week is going to be AWST magazine's site at http://www.aviationnow.com. I checked awhile ago, and nothing on it yet, but expect their normal Monday update to be full of proper-context information that the conventional media often goofs up.

What would the descent profile for such a flight usually be?
What types of substances are so dangerous that people are being advised to stay clear of them?

May God bless there souls.
This is a terrible tragedy


FLYING MACHINE:
The Rush song was 'Countdown'. The video included footage of the launch.

>>>What types of substances are so dangerous that people are being advised to stay clear of them?

Propellants for the engines. They're so volatile that they need only come in contact with one another to ignite, and don't need a spark to do so. Toxic too. The names (as mentioned on TV this morning) of the stuff escape me at the moment.

Latest FDC NOTAMS/TFRS...

3/0865 - FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS TEXAS AND LOUISIANA EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. PURSUANT TO 14 CFR SECTION 91.137(A)(1) TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS ARE IN EFFECT DUE TO SEARCH AND RESCUE EFFORTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA ACCIDENT. ONLY RELIEF AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF SEADS (SOUTHEAST AIR DEFENSE SECTOR) ARE AUTHORIZED AT AND BELOW 3000 FEET MSL WITHIN THE AIRSPACE FROM 323700N/961900W AND THE CEDAR CREEK /CQY/ VORTAC 343 DEGREE RADIAL AT 26.3 NAUTICAL MILES TO 314000N/931700W AND THE POLK /FXU/ VORTAC 349 DEGREE RADIAL AT 33.4 NAUTICAL MILES TO 310000N/933800W AND THE POLK /FXU/ VORTAC 248 DEGREE RADIAL AT 22.4 NAUTICAL MILES TO 320000N/963600W AND THE CEDAR CREEK /CQY/ VORTAC 234 DEGREE RADIAL AT 22.4 NAUTICAL MILES TO 323700N/961900W AND THE CEDAR CREEK /CQY/ VORTAC 343 DEGREE RADIAL AT 26.3 NAUTICAL MILES UNLESS OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED BY ATC. SEADS MCC, 850-283-5207, IS IN CHARGE OF THE OPERATION. FORT WORTH CENTER, 817-858-7503, IS THE FAA COORDINATION FACILITY. WIE UNTIL UFN


3/0866 - FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS TEXAS AND LOUISIANA EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. PURSUANT TO 14 CFR SECTION 91.137(A)(1) TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS ARE IN EFFECT DUE TO SEARCH AND RESCUE EFFORTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA ACCIDENT. ONLY RELIEF AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF SEADS (SOUTHEAST AIR DEFENSE SECTOR) ARE AUTHORIZED AT AND BELOW 3000 FEET MSL WITHIN THE AIRSPACE FROM 323700N/961900W AND THE CEDAR CREEK /CQY/ VORTAC 343 DEGREE RADIAL AT 26.3 NAUTICAL MILES TO 314000N/931700W AND THE POLK /FXU/ VORTAC 349 DEGREE RADIAL AT 33.4 NAUTICAL MILES TO 310000N/933800W AND THE POLK /FXU/ VORTAC 248 DEGREE RADIAL AT 22.4 NAUTICAL MILES TO 320000N/963600W AND THE CEDAR CREEK /CQY/ VORTAC 234 DEGREE RADIAL AT 22.4 NAUTICAL MILES TO 323700N/961900W AND THE CEDAR CREEK /CQY/ VORTAC 343 DEGREE RADIAL AT 26.3 NAUTICAL MILES UNLESS OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED BY ATC. SEADS MCC, 850-283-5207, IS IN CHARGE OF THE OPERATION. FORT WORTH CENTER, 817-858-7503, IS THE FAA COORDINATION FACILITY. WIE UNTIL UFN

As Ual747 already pointed out in Reply # 221, apparantly the Columbia crew (probably the crew members piloting Columbia) reported some technical problems during re-entry, only few moments before radio black-out...

Ivan

You know I don't think I ever paid attention to the fact that the orbiter is a Boeing product until just now... I always thought Lockheed or N. Grumman made it.

Anyway, there's a statement on the Boeing website in the Space Shuttle section:

After 20 years, the space shuttle is still the most capable, reliable,versatile and safest launch vehicle in the world.

...and despite this tragedy, its still entirely true.

There's plenty of supplies on the ISS for the existing crew, and hopefully, by June we'll be flying our orbiter missions again and continuing the multinational effort that we've spent so much time and effort on, and that these brave crew gave their life for.

I also hope that this gives some fuel to the Shuttle replacement fire - not because the Shuttle is unsafe, but because we need a new space vehicle to replace it just like Endeavour replaced the Challenger. Its time to get the new vehicle developed and get going with it.

We've been flying these things more in the past 5 or 6 years than we did in the first 15 years since the program started, and I don't want that to end.

I don't think the people that died today would want it to end, either.

RIP

N

"safest launch vehicle in the world."

what are u talking about??? look at the ratio of space shuttle flights to other modes of transport.

I would just like to note that the media should not be expected to cover each day of a shuttle's mission. However, they do (at least here in Miami) always broadcast the launch/return of a shuttle (and sometimes other craft) so those who are saying that the media only reports shuttle events in times of tragedy are incorrect....my condolences to the families affected...

MIA777

BTW, how come MSNBC still has "Breaking News" posted on the screen? Is it just me, or is this not even close to "breaking news"? Its been almost 12 hours.

I don't consider myself a conspiracy theorist, but there are some alarming coincidences here.

January 27, 19??: Apollo aircraft burns on launchpad
January 28, 1986: Challenger explodes on launch
February 1, 2003: Columbia explodes on descent

All three of these took place during the Aquarius Zodiac period.

Checking the Aquarius profile (I was born the day before the Challenger disaster), I found that one of the professions that Aquarians might be interested in is, eerily, Aviation.

This hit home with me, I just thought I would throw it out there.

I believe Boeing is implying the shuttle is the safest space launch vehicle. They would not be comparing it to other modes of transport

what are u talking about??? look at the ratio of space shuttle flights to other modes of transport.

Im pretty sure, by noticing the "launch vehicle" part, that he is talking about other vehicles that take astronauts into space. They arent comparing the Space Shuttle to buses or motorcycles. If you compare the shuttle to those thins, then Shuttle looks very dangerous, but compared to other rockets and space vehicles, it has a good track record. Only 2 losses in over 100 missions.

You know I don't think I ever paid attention to the fact that the orbiter is a Boeing product until just now... I always thought Lockheed or N. Grumman made it.


The space shuttle orbiters were built by Rockwell International.

That's it and no more communicator with the postings and the crew will going to be locked it up right now. This is too much with the posting for everybody. This is not want happen with the space shuttle again like goes back of the 1986 and I do regards with my teacher named is Ms. Dunnell's friend was used on the space shuttle once before back of 1986. Well, catch ya later!

Sleekjet:

They have the report about the fire in Plano,TX on Dallas News right now. They are pretty much discounting it as a fire caused from debris....just thought you'd like to know.

UAL747

Boeing claims that they make them:



Boeing is under contract to the United Space Alliance for space shuttle orbiter production, modification and operation. Additionally, Boeing is responsible for the overall shuttle system, payload integration services and launch and mission support. An active shuttle upgrades program is supporting America's space transportation needs well into the 21st century. This assists NASA in carrying out its mission safely and with significantly reduced costs.

Although I get the impression that it was only Atlantis and Endeavour, since they have different specifications than Columbia did.

There's also a shot of the glass cockpit, which I'm assuming is new? They didn always have a class cockpit, did they?

http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/hsfe_shuttle/flash.html

N

This might seem a little morbid, but would the bodies of the crew be recongnizable after such an impact?

Unbelievable.

A major news outlet is already circulating video of a group of people surrounding some debris they found...which is a charred flight helmet...and the camera already zoomed in on it, showing what appeared to be human remains inside.

Is nothing sacred?  

Frequentflier, a belated happy birthday, and congratulations: you have the same birth date as my youngest sister!
The whole occurrece of a shuttle disaster reminds us how close we play chance at its' game - out there is truly unknown... My sympathies to all those affected...

tjsb01

They have found some remains around Hemphill, TX and have taken them away in hearses. Don't know if they were recognizable...

A uniform flight patch was shown laying on the ground as well



[Edited 2003-02-02 00:59:43]