News Alert: Space Shuttle Columbia Lost Prior To Landing
Posted: Feb 1st 2003, 12:33 pm
As reported by various news agencies, the space shuttle Columbia broke up over Central Texas while en route to it's scheduled landing in Florida.
At this time, it is being reported that debris has fallen over parts of Texas.
There has been no official word from NASA or the White House as to the cause of the tragedy. The only official facts are that NASA lost contact with the shuttle Columbia shortly before the apparent break-up, and that the break-up was clearly visible over Texas and the region. Further details will emerge over time as NASA makes it's investigation.
It should also be noted that there are no signs of terrorism in relation to this event.
The following is the initial report from Reuters news service...
Thank you.
Gary
At this time, it is being reported that debris has fallen over parts of Texas.
There has been no official word from NASA or the White House as to the cause of the tragedy. The only official facts are that NASA lost contact with the shuttle Columbia shortly before the apparent break-up, and that the break-up was clearly visible over Texas and the region. Further details will emerge over time as NASA makes it's investigation.
It should also be noted that there are no signs of terrorism in relation to this event.
The following is the initial report from Reuters news service...
Our thoughts and prayers go to the astronauts and their families.CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Reuters) - The space shuttle Columbia was feared crashed in Texas on Saturday with seven astronauts on board after it lost contact with NASA minutes before landing.
Television images showed several white trails in the blue sky, which could be an indication of the breakup of the shuttle because normally only a single trail is visible. Officials immediately warned about the possibility of toxic debris in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
The U.S. space agency said it scrambled rescue units to search in Texas for the shuttle and its astronauts, which included the first Israeli to fly on the shuttle, Col. Ilan Ramon. There was no immediate indication of any foul play, officials said.
A NASA spokesman said the agency lost contact with the shuttle, which was completing a 16-day mission, at around 9 a.m. while it was 207,000 feet above the Earth, and 16 minutes out from its scheduled landing at Kennedy Space Center.
It was almost 17 years to the day that the Challenger shuttle exploded on Jan. 28, 1986, killing all seven astronauts on board.
NASA would say only that it had declared a "contingency" and that search and rescue units had been scrambled to search for any wreckage.
NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe at Kennedy Space Center in Florida had no comment.
President Bush was briefed on the situation at the Camp David presidential retreat outside Washington, and citizens in the Dallas-Fort Worth area were warned not to approach any wreckage they might find.
NASA mission control in Houston said, "Any debris that is located in the Dallas-Fort Worth vicinity should be avoided and may be hazardous due to the toxic nature of propellants used on board the shuttle and should be reported to local law enforcement authorities."
In Palestine, Texas, a city southwest of Dallas that could be on a flight path that would turn up debris, police spokesman Steve Petrovich said, "We've gotten numerous calls throughout the city of some type of sonic-type boom and people seeing vapor trails."
Columbia is NASA's oldest shuttle and first flew in 1981.
There were numerous eyewitness reports of the shuttle apparently breaking apart, with several trails seen as it headed toward Earth.
Dan Archer told local television from Waco, Texas. "I kept tracking the shuttle and then it appeared to be breaking up."
Another witness told CNN: "We heard a rumble. It eventually got to where our house was shaking ... it lasted for about a minute and a half. It felt like you lived with a railroad in your backyard."
Weather forecasters had predicted clear skies and light winds at the Kennedy Space Center. NASA headquarters said there had been no reported difficulties from the shuttle before it lost contact with ground control.
The shuttle's seven astronauts had closed out science experiments conducted on the 16-day mission, which had been deemed a success by scientists and NASA officials.
The astronauts had conducted more than 80 experiments on behalf of NASA and the European, Japanese, German and Canadian space agencies, as well as numerous student and commercial investigations. The shuttle did not visit the International Space Station on this trip.
Thank you.
Gary