Space Shuttle Columbia Breaks Up During Re-Entry Over Texas!

BioMotor_Unitron · Feb 1, 2003

<a href="http://www.cnn.com/" target="_blank">CNN</a>

<a href="http://www.msnbc.com/news/default.asp?0ct=-34o" target="_blank">MSNBC</a>

<a href="http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts107/status.html" target="_blank">SPACEFLIGHT NOW</a>

[ February 01, 2003, 09:00 AM: Message edited by: BioMotor_Unitron ]

Asure · Feb 1, 2003

Yup, watching it when it came on. I'm on the cnn mailing list ever since 9-11 ... .

Mouse_Master · Feb 1, 2003

Just saw this myself as well, there goes the space program again for a few years. 7 lost from what it sounds like.

A sad day for space exploration.

I believe it was January 28, 1985 that the Challenger exploded when WE (all of the school kids in the USA) watched it on live TV.

Before 9/11, that was the key event in my life.

EVIL NICK · Feb 1, 2003

Mouse_Master:
Just saw this myself as well, there goes the space program again for a few years. 7 lost from what it sounds like.

A sad day for space exploration.

I believe it was January 28, 1985 that the Challenger exploded when WE (all of the school kids in the USA) watched it on live TV.

Before 9/11, that was the key event in my life.

And that almost doubles the lives lost in space exploration...

Up to 19 now, since '86...

Almost 20 years w/o any loss of life , too...

Wasn't the Challenger explosion in '86?

Mouse_Master · Feb 1, 2003

EVIL NICK:
And that almost doubles the lives lost in space exploration... Up to 19 now, since '86...

Almost 20 years w/o any loss of life , too...

Wasn't the Challenger explosion in '86?

It could have been, all I can tell you was I was in 5th grade (too much thought for what year it was this early).

MattMan · Feb 1, 2003

Man I just woke up, and wow they just showed a clip of it exploding in re-entery. And yeah they just mentioned the last one was in '86. But wow this such a horrible way to go... very sad crying

[ February 01, 2003, 10:00 AM: Message edited by: MattMan ]

Lagduf · Feb 1, 2003

Agh i just woke up to this around 9:00CST.

Its always so terrible when astronauts die. There mission is one of peace/exploration/knowledge. this is just simply terrible.

[ February 01, 2003, 10:00 AM: Message edited by: Lagduf ]

Makismo · Feb 1, 2003

Mouse_Master:
Just saw this myself as well, there goes the space program again for a few years. 7 lost from what it sounds like.

A sad day for space exploration.

I believe it was January 28, 1985 that the Challenger exploded when WE (all of the school kids in the USA) watched it on live TV.

Before 9/11, that was the key event in my life.

Sorry Mouse Master but you are not correct. It was January 28, 1986 when the Challenger exploded. Anyway, I hear that this shuttle was 28 years old. I really think that they should have but this old machine away and made a new one. I sure know that I wouldn't want to go up in something that old. Think of all the missions that that thing went on. I am guess that this one last mission was just too much for it. oh_no

chimpmeister · Feb 1, 2003

Makismo:

Mouse_Master:
Just saw this myself as well, there goes the space program again for a few years. 7 lost from what it sounds like.

A sad day for space exploration.

I believe it was January 28, 1985 that the Challenger exploded when WE (all of the school kids in the USA) watched it on live TV.

Before 9/11, that was the key event in my life.

Click to expand...

Sorry Mouse Master but you are not correct. It was January 28, 1986 when the Challenger exploded. Anyway, I hear that this shuttle was 28 years old. I really think that they should have but this old machine away and made a new one. I sure know that I wouldn't want to go up in something that old. Think of all the missions that that thing went on. I am guess that this one last mission was just too much for it. oh_no

Actually you're wrong. First, the Columbia was built in 1981, thus it was 21 years old, not 28. It had flown 28 MISSIONS, and the shuttles are rated for a total life of 100 missions (flights).

EVIL NICK · Feb 1, 2003

Makismo:

Mouse_Master:
Just saw this myself as well, there goes the space program again for a few years. 7 lost from what it sounds like.

A sad day for space exploration.

I believe it was January 28, 1985 that the Challenger exploded when WE (all of the school kids in the USA) watched it on live TV.

Before 9/11, that was the key event in my life.

Click to expand...

Sorry Mouse Master but you are not correct. It was January 28, 1986 when the Challenger exploded. Anyway, I hear that this shuttle was 28 years old. I really think that they should have but this old machine away and made a new one. I sure know that I wouldn't want to go up in something that old. Think of all the missions that that thing went on. I am guess that this one last mission was just too much for it. oh_no

Have some respect for the astronauts and don't turn this thread into a flame war...

There's no space shuttle that's 28 years old... that would mean it was built in 1975? And they do get rebuilds after every flight... frown

EVIL NICK · Feb 1, 2003

chimpmeister:

Makismo:

Mouse_Master:
Just saw this myself as well, there goes the space program again for a few years. 7 lost from what it sounds like.

A sad day for space exploration.

I believe it was January 28, 1985 that the Challenger exploded when WE (all of the school kids in the USA) watched it on live TV.

Before 9/11, that was the key event in my life.

Click to expand...

Sorry Mouse Master but you are not correct. It was January 28, 1986 when the Challenger exploded. Anyway, I hear that this shuttle was 28 years old. I really think that they should have but this old machine away and made a new one. I sure know that I wouldn't want to go up in something that old. Think of all the missions that that thing went on. I am guess that this one last mission was just too much for it. oh_no

Click to expand...

Actually you're wrong. First, the Columbia was built in 1981, thus it was 21 years old, not 28. It had flown 28 MISSIONS, and the shuttles are rated for a total life of 100 missions (flights).

Exactly , thank you!

Megatron X · Feb 1, 2003

This is total fucked up. I hope the 7 Astronauts are fine.
I saw it on FOX 5 and ABC in the morning. I really hope they are fine.

EVIL NICK · Feb 1, 2003

Megatron X:
This is total fucked up. I hope the 7 Astronauts are fine.
I saw it on FOX 5 and ABC in the morning. I really hope they are fine.

Looking at the clips they show on the news, that's highly unlikely...

I mean, the whole shuttle looked like it broke apart...

They just can't say it on the news yet...

Kid Aphex · Feb 1, 2003

Makismo-

the shuttles are built to go on about 100 missions per shuttle. this was the 28th mission i believe...so, it didn't seem as risky as you make it sound. but of course...the age really does play a role in it all.

talking about these things is fine...but arguing about them? try to keep in mind these people's lives were just lost.

Kid Aphex · Feb 1, 2003

EVIL NICK:

Megatron X:
This is total fucked up. I hope the 7 Astronauts are fine.
I saw it on FOX 5 and ABC in the morning. I really hope they are fine.

Click to expand...

Looking at the clips they show on the news, that's highly unlikely...

I mean, the whole shuttle looked like it broke apart...

They just can't say it on the news yet...

Nasa has officially declared the shuttle and astronauts lost, just to let everyone know.

EVIL NICK · Feb 1, 2003

Kid Aphex:
Nasa has officially declared the shuttle and astronauts lost, just to let everyone know.

frown

Megatron X · Feb 1, 2003

Kid Aphex:

EVIL NICK:

Megatron X:
This is total fucked up. I hope the 7 Astronauts are fine.
I saw it on FOX 5 and ABC in the morning. I really hope they are fine.

Click to expand...

Looking at the clips they show on the news, that's highly unlikely...

I mean, the whole shuttle looked like it broke apart...

They just can't say it on the news yet...

Click to expand...

Nasa has officially declared the shuttle and astronauts lost, just to let everyone know.

oh_no frown

Loopz · Feb 1, 2003

The notion the shuttles are old is hogwash. As others have posted here they are rated for 100 flights, and aside from that, every 5 missions they receive a near-total overhaul, right down to the aluminum frame. As the CNN reporter put it, "These are the most pampered flight vehicles in the world."

NASA takes every precaution, and then some. Things like this just serve to remind you what a dangerous thing they do every time they send one of these suckers up. I just feel awful for the families of the crew.

BC_Gambit · Feb 1, 2003

It took a while to build each of the shuttles (5-8 years?) so all the design and major parts were built in the 70's.

Would you want to drive around in a car that was that old, let alone go into space?

I hope some good does come out of this, in that NASA gets a boot to their ass and develops a next generation space vehicle.

Kid Aphex · Feb 1, 2003

BC_Gambit:
It took a while to build each of the shuttles (5-8 years?) so all the design and major parts were built in the 70's.

Would you want to drive around in a car that was that old, let alone go into space?

I hope some good does come out of this, in that NASA gets a boot to their ass and develops a next generation space vehicle.

Unfortunately, like someone already mentioned, a disaster like this usually sets NASA back a few years.

Which is REALLY unfortunate, considering even old miser Bush was ready to speed things up in terms of Space travel.

BioMotor_Unitron · Feb 1, 2003

From CNN:

Columbia is the oldest of NASA's shuttle fleet, first launched in 1981. It was on its 28th mission. The shuttle underwent an extensive, 17-month overhaul that began in September, 1999.

It rejoined the shuttle fleet in February, 2001 and flew its first mission after the upgrades in March, 2002.

As a side note, the Enterprise was built and flown before Columbia, but was a test vehicle. It never went into orbit, Columbia was the first one to do that.

<a href="http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/enterprise.html" target="_blank">Enterprise (OV-101)</a>

[ February 01, 2003, 11:00 AM: Message edited by: BioMotor_Unitron ]

Phoenix Down · Feb 1, 2003

BC_Gambit:
It took a while to build each of the shuttles (5-8 years?) so all the design and major parts were built in the 70's.

Would you want to drive around in a car that was that old, let alone go into space?

I hope some good does come out of this, in that NASA gets a boot to their ass and develops a next generation space vehicle.

Like someone said earlier here the shuttles are refurbished and checked out in every detail before and after each flight.

As far as developing a next generation vehicle, it sounds like a good idea, except NASA's been trying to do that for nearly 20 years. If you'd like to give them a few billion dollars so they can do that be my guest, because our government (both Democrats and Republicans) don't give NASA jack shit in terms of support. very_ang

[ February 01, 2003, 11:04 AM: Message edited by: Phoenix Down ]

Moob Butter · Feb 1, 2003

I have to say that I feel quite sorry for you americans right now, you guys must be pretty much scared shitless by anything falling out of the sky right now. eek!

But on an other note I really feel sorry for the familes of those that died, they where at the landing spot waiting for them I can only guess how they felt when the news broke threw to them a couple of minutes before the shuttle should have landed, my heart lies with them. frown

BC_Gambit · Feb 1, 2003

Amen to what madmanjock said.

I'm not sure if history will repeat itself in terms of shutting down the space program.

China is trying to put a man in space as early as this year. If the US sits on its hands, they might not have space superiority for much longer.

BryLmoo · Feb 1, 2003

I feel sorry for the families of the ones killed.

But, NASA isn't getting any prayers from me.

Another three billion down the toilet.

Space Shuttle Columbia Breaks Up During Re-Entry Over Texas!

Global Moderator,

Captain Dick,

Support your local Sheriff, ,

ALL CAPS,

Support your local Sheriff, ,

Galford's Armourer

2>X

Ghost of Captain Kidd

Former Moderator

ALL CAPS,

ALL CAPS,

X nortageM,

ALL CAPS,

samus' love slave,

samus' love slave,

ALL CAPS,

X nortageM,

Formerly Punjab,

Beni,

samus' love slave,

Global Moderator,

Flagstaff Up,

Bare AES Handler

Beni,

AES Contact Cleaner, Extraordinaire!!!,