Space Shuttle Columbia

[ice4277]

Tragic news, and condolences to all involved. Hopefully this will not be the end of the space program as we know it.

[stkelly52]

Wow, this is terrible

[sachmo71]

I felt my house shake this morning, and I thought one of my neighbors had backed into my fence or something. Now that I know what it was, it's a bit creepy. :(

The news is already starting to piss me off. I wish they would stop focusing on the fact that one of the astronauts was Isreali.

[RawIsDan]

horrible indeed.

[Tasan]

I live in the Dallas Metroplex, as does my brother-in-law. He lives just north of Ft. Worth and heard it as well. Simply amazing.

And just 3 days after the anniversary of the Challenger tragedy.

[Ksyrup]

My parents in Richardson said they heard something like pebbles hitting the windows, but thought nothing of it at the time.

This brings back some bad memories.

[sabotai]

Truely horrible.

[Senator]

It woke me and my wife up.

Damn, I hate this has happened again.

[Flame Eater]

I'm heart-broken. I remember the Challenger explosion like it was yesterday. I've always idolized NASA; things like this make me feel very empty inside.

[Tasan]

Originally posted by Flame Eater
I'm heart-broken. I remember the Challenger explosion like it was yesterday. I've always idolized NASA; things like this make me feel very empty inside.

I hear ya. I was in 4th grade when that happened. I just can't put into words what I'm feeling right now, much like all those years ago.

[sabotai]

I can't remember what grade I was in when the Challenger exploded. I think 2nd grade. But I remember that day clearly. We spend most of the day in school watching the news.

[Ksyrup]

That was 1986 right? I can never remember the year, but always remember the month and day. I was in high school, working on my science fair project at home on a teacher in-service day and heard it on the radio. Remember it like it was yesterday.

[Blackadar]

Oh wow. Damn. That was the 2nd one in my lifetime. :(

[cthomer5000]

it's sad that it takes events like this to remind me of how fragile life is, and how close any of us can be to dying at any given moment.

[sterlingice]

Tragic news, and condolences to all involved. Hopefully this will not be the end of the space program as we know it.

The news is already starting to piss me off. I wish they would stop focusing on the fact that one of the astronauts was Isreali.

Ditto on both accounts. I've always been a bit of a dreamer and the concept of space and space travel is the most amazing thing there is. I really hope this doesn't lead to a shutdown of NASA. Maybe they will finally raise NASA's budget so they can stop putting together with duct tape and bubble gum.

Also, I really agree on the Israeli comment. This is along the line of the "no more heroes" thread from a couple of days ago. The news is trying to make a story where there is none. Unless they have proof some Arab was onboard and sabotaging the mission (I seriously doubt that was the case)- i don't care because when it comes right down to it, that's what they are implying. It's things like that which continue to promote a subtle racism in their country. Again, back to what we were talking about in that thread- the creation of a story where there is none just to cater to the lowest common denominator.

SI

[sabotai]

January 28, 1986 was the Challenger explosion

[Qwikshot]

I can't believe this has happened again, I don't know what else to think, I turned on CNN.com and couldn't believe that this has happened all over again.

[Airhog]

Well I feel bad for those people, but on the otherhand, they know the risks involved. No one ever said that flying into space wasnt dangerous. I clearly feel for some reason, that this accident could have been prevented. I also feel that its time to re-evaluate our space program, and determine if a better machine needs to be built to do the job.

[Tasan]

http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/archives/sts-1/index.html

Link to the first Columbia mission, which was the first in-orbit mission of the space shuttle program. At the bottom is an article which I'm sure will be removed. The site might be a little slow right now too.

I still am in shock.

[MrBug708]

What a start to an awful day. I wake up and my dad tells me they lost a shuttle. First thing I heard on tv was the flag was at half mast

[bigdawg2003]

One of my brother's favorite teachers from high school was the runner up on that Challenger thing, a man named Mr. Warren.

This is unbelievable, shocking, and tragic. All I hope for is to find out that it was merely some kind of mechanical glitch and nothing perpetrated by a terrorist group. I live in Austin, so this is fairly close to me.

Wow.

EDIT: I was asleep when this happened, but my mother just told me she heard a loud bang at the time. She thought a transformer had gone out. RIP Columbia astronauts.

[Qwikshot]

Originally posted by Airhog
Well I feel bad for those people, but on the otherhand, they know the risks involved. No one ever said that flying into space wasnt dangerous. I clearly feel for some reason, that this accident could have been prevented. I also feel that its time to re-evaluate our space program, and determine if a better machine needs to be built to do the job.

Nobody wants to fund NASA, it will never recover now...it's still been recovering from the Challenger...everyone knows the risks involved but if this was a preventable mistake than it is an unacceptable loss.

[FBPro]

Our hearts and prayers go out to all involved, we are saddened.

[GrantDawg]

Originally posted by Tasan
http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/archives/sts-1/index.html

Link to the first Columbia mission, which was the first in-orbit mission of the space shuttle program. At the bottom is an article which I'm sure will be removed. The site might be a little slow right now too.

I still am in shock.

I thought Columbia was the first. I was in elementary school (I want to say 5th grade) and I remember watching the first launch. I also remember a group of astronauts coming to our school and telling us what it was like. One of them was on the Challenger a few years later.

This breaks my heart.

[BFleming]

I remember being in 2nd grade when news first broke about the Challenger...The mere fact that this is now the 2nd such tragedy in so little period of time is deeply troubling. The only thing that bothers me about this coverage is all the focus on the Israeli/we must rule out terrorism angle. There were more people on board than just him, other people that had families, etc. All heroes in their own right. Now don't get me wrong, I agree that Ilan Ramon did something spectacular and the milestone was significant, but at the expense of not saying a word about the rest of the crew? Maybe it's just the coverage I have on from ABC that skews this so far, but IMO, human life is human life..let's focus on the entire crew and finding some answers about what happened and why...

I apologize in advance if anything I said came across as being abrasive. Just needed to vent. Thanks all..

[CHEMICAL SOLDIER]

I pray for their family who were waiting for them and now .....

[MylesKnight]

UNBELIEVABLE!! WHY? WHY? WHY?

[Airhog]

Originally posted by Qwikshot
Nobody wants to fund NASA, it will never recover now...it's still been recovering from the Challenger...everyone knows the risks involved but if this was a preventable mistake than it is an unacceptable loss.

Every loss is unacceptble in any sport, activity, and invention. But that doesnt mean we should just give up on those things. If America doesnt continue to push foward into space, we soon will be passed by countries like china. I think its time for the space program to go from governmental, to commercial.

[Tasan]

Oh China is going to love this. They send their first man into space later this year. I can imagine that they will look to make this some kind of in-your-face point about how reliable THEIR program is or something.

[Ksyrup]

Aside from the obvious tragedy, this has been a unique experience to go through, since this is the first tragedy my 3.5 year old daughter has been "aware" of (she was just over 1 when 9/11 occurred). At first, we explained to her what we were watching, what happened, that the people on board "did not make it" (then gradually, told her that they died ), etc.

She asked alot of "why?" type questions, then laid her head in my lap while we were watching the replay for the 100th time. A couple of minutes later, she turned her head away from the TV, then a minute later put her hands over her ears. I turned on Disney Channel and she slipped back into her own little world again, as if nothing had happened.

That was one of those moments where you realize that your young child is actually beginning to comprehend things going on around them. I learned alot this morning. No more leaving the TV on to watch coverage of these kinds of things for hours at a time.

[Qwikshot]

Originally posted by Airhog
Every loss is unacceptble in any sport, activity, and invention. But that doesnt mean we should just give up on those things. If America doesnt continue to push foward into space, we soon will be passed by countries like china. I think its time for the space program to go from governmental, to commercial.

Commerical??? How? You think a company would make things any safer? Commerical will actually lead to more disasters, NASA barely runs now, hows a company going to keep afloat.

We won't get passed by China, they barely have a program, they are just sending up manned missions...How many people actually have followed NASA recently, probably not many. There has been no incentive to continue on in space missions unless it was for satelite purposes. I'm not saying we should give up, but many people will question what we are doing.

Was Columbia the first shuttle to go up after Challenger? I don't remember if it was Columbia or Discovery, I watched by myself at the request of the principal of my school the followup flight after Challenger and to relay to her what happened...

[MylesKnight]

Why worry about what country's such as China will do? Who cares.. Let's worry about ourselves and screw the rest of them when it comes to issues such as this..

I'd rather be in a Free Society that didn't even have a space program, than a Communist One that possibly starves its own people and violates their human rights, but is able to make a nice pretty spaceship..


By the way Tasan, I'm not talking to you personally, just venting my feelings. No disrespect to you my friend..

[CHEMICAL SOLDIER]

If anything this tragedy shhould propel us into further space exploration . The program should rise out of the ashes like a Phoenix and drive us into the next phase of space exploration .

[GrantDawg]

Originally posted by Qwikshot

Was Columbia the first shuttle to go up after Challenger? I don't remember if it was Columbia or Discovery, I watched by myself at the request of the principal of my school the followup flight after Challenger and to relay to her what happened...

Columbia was the very first shuttle to orbit the earth. Discovery was the test shuttle. Challenger first launch was later.

[CHEMICAL SOLDIER]

2 weeks ago the flight merrited nothing news wise ...it received 1 minute of news time and now ......

[GrantDawg]

Originally posted by GrantDawg
Columbia was the very first shuttle to orbit the earth. Discovery was the test shuttle. Challenger first launch was later.

Sorry, Discovery was the third shuttle launch. It went Columbia, Challenger, and then Discovery.

[GrantDawg]

Oh, and this was something I did not know. The Enterprise was the original test shuttle that they used to release off the 747. It became the Challenger after major refit.

[Tasan]

Originally posted by MylesKnight
Why worry about what country's such as China will do? Who cares.. Let's worry about ourselves and screw the rest of them when it comes to issues such as this..

I'd rather be in a Free Society that didn't even have a space program, than a Communist One that possibly starves its own people and violates their human rights, but is able to make a nice pretty spaceship..


By the way Tasan, I'm not talking to you personally, just venting my feelings. No disrespect to you my friend..

Oh hey no problem. Wasn't mad ;- )

I don't worry about what China does or says, I just think thats how they'll spin it, thats all.

[Tasan]

Originally posted by GrantDawg
Oh, and this was something I did not know. The Enterprise was the original test shuttle that they used to release off the 747. It became the Challenger after major refit.

Um, no, the Enterprise is in the Smithsonian. The Challenger was the second full fledged shuttle off the line. The Enterprise was simply a no-engine glide and telemetry test vehicle.

[GrantDawg]

Originally posted by Tasan
Um, no, the Enterprise is in the Smithsonian. The Challenger was the second full fledged shuttle off the line. The Enterprise was simply a no-engine glide and telemetry test vehicle.

Ok. That is why I had never heard that. It was actually a retrofit of an un-named test shuttle (STA-099 ). I stand corrected.

[GrantDawg]

Then in 1978, NASA decided not to convert the Enterprise, the first orbiter created and used for testing, to a functional orbiter. This left Columbia as the only operable space shuttle.
NASA signed a contract with Rockwell International, the primary shuttle manufacturer, on Jan. 29, 1979 to modify STA-099 into a space-rated orbiter. It was an easier task than if they had decided to modify Enterprise, but it still required major disassembly. STA-099 had been created with a simulated crew module that had to be replaced, which required separating the forward fuselage halves.


It was the second shuttle finished but it was a retro-fit.

[Airhog]

Originally posted by Qwikshot
Commerical??? How? You think a company would make things any safer? Commerical will actually lead to more disasters, NASA barely runs now, hows a company going to keep afloat.

We won't get passed by China, they barely have a program, they are just sending up manned missions...How many people actually have followed NASA recently, probably not many. There has been no incentive to continue on in space missions unless it was for satelite purposes. I'm not saying we should give up, but many people will question what we are doing.


I never said it would make flight any safer, but we have an aging fleet of ships that need replaced. Those are facts. Its also a fact that people are unwilling to pay for space flight through taxes. NASA is barely afloat right now. Our aerospace industry could work together to fund a space program.

You are right, most people dont follow NASA. I think this is mainly because what they do is so disconnected. People want to explore the stars, but you have to take baby steps to get there.

I do believe there is many incentives to continue with the space program. The first one being that Planet Earth only has finite resources that are critical to our survival. We have a whole universe out there for the taking!

[NoMyths]

Originally posted by Airhog
Every loss is unacceptble in any sport, activity, and invention. But that doesnt mean we should just give up on those things. If America doesnt continue to push foward into space, we soon will be passed by countries like china. I think its time for the space program to go from governmental, to commercial.

Yeah, 'cause lord knows there are no fatal accidents in commercial transportation.

Terrible, terrible news.

[ratpfink]

I'm not sure how profitable space missions would be for any commercial enterprise. I'm also under the impression that the aerospace industry isn't very healthy now, although I could be wrong.

[Qwikshot]

Originally posted by GrantDawg
Columbia was the very first shuttle to orbit the earth. Discovery was the test shuttle. Challenger first launch was later.

I meant after the Challenger blew up, what shuttle went up after the Challenger disaster...apologies...

[Qwikshot]

Originally posted by Airhog
I never said it would make flight any safer, but we have an aging fleet of ships that need replaced. Those are facts. Its also a fact that people are unwilling to pay for space flight through taxes. NASA is barely afloat right now. Our aerospace industry could work together to fund a space program.

You are right, most people dont follow NASA. I think this is mainly because what they do is so disconnected. People want to explore the stars, but you have to take baby steps to get there.

I do believe there is many incentives to continue with the space program. The first one being that Planet Earth only has finite resources that are critical to our survival. We have a whole universe out there for the taking!

Our new Manifest Destiny I take it...

Commercial airlines are in trouble now, could you imagine what a shuttle airline would be like now after 9/11...there is a reason space transportation is being held only to governments...we barely have our airlines afloat, our trains are bankrupt, cruise ships are just for tourist traps...the cost of getting something like shuttle transport underway is way too expensive as of now...

[duckman]

God bless the families of the crew of the Columbia and they are in my prayers.

[dacman]

Originally posted by Qwikshot
I meant after the Challenger blew up, what shuttle went up after the Challenger disaster...apologies...

Discovery

[Ryan S]

Originally posted by ice4277
Tragic news, and condolences to all involved. Hopefully this will not be the end of the space program as we know it.


It can not be the end as we know it.

There are still astronauts in the International Space Station, and their missions will not be longer than a few months, so it would not suprise me too much if there is no pause in shuttle launches. There is no way you can ask another country to send up extra missions or carry extra passengers on their mission with such short notice.

[CHEMICAL SOLDIER]

In one of the footages it shows the top door breaking off and then explosions from heat so I assume that it is from structural failure ...but enough of that Let us pray for the safety of the family on a very hard day for them .

[SackAttack]

Y'know, there's certain things you just don't ever wanna hear first thing in the morning, and something like this is one of 'em.

Somebody else mentioned it, but it bears repeating - why is our space program such a low priority for the news media during its successes, but 48 point headline news when something goes wrong?

It has the effect of leading one to believe that NASA is nothing but one serious mess after another, and that's good neither for NASA's morale, nor for their continued existence as an entity. I don't know if the accident was legitimate or sabotage. I don't think anybody does. But one thing bears keeping in mind - if it IS sabotage, it could just as well have been a person or group of people intent on derailing the space-based missile shield. The Israeli as a target might be the en vogue thing for the media to promote, but it's not necessarily the true cause.

Just my two bits.

Josh

[Ryche]

One thing to note, we probably can't just kill the shuttle program for 2 years to investigate the accident like we did last time. We have the space station up there with three astronauts due to come home in March. I'm not sure how we bring them back, but I'd guess either they will come back on an escape pod attached to the station or with a foreign space program that visits the station.

But with the money put into the space station, I can't imagine we will abandon it. You would hope they have a contingency plan in case such an accident occured.

RIP

[mrskippy]

Absolutely shocking. To see this happen twice in my lifetime ... tragic. I'm so deeply saddened today. Words can't express how heartbroken I am.

[mrskippy]

Dola ...

I don't see us getting rid of our space program, ever. It's truly one of our most treasured American programs. And it's a common bond we share with the world.

These astronauts who perished today, who gave their lives for America, Israel, and the World would want us to move on and to continue soaring into the heavens.

[Kodos]

This is a sad day for Americans. But NASA must continue it's program. That is what everyone on board the Columbia would have wanted.


:( I hate these things.

[moore4807]

Columbia crew, R. I. P. "May you rest in gods hands as you have forever touched the stars"

Practically speaking as was noted by ABC's Jennings - there is never a good fatality but 3 tragic incidents in 42 years of space travel for NASA with 17 souls lost is not something to hang our heads about. These brave people trained and dreamed and how many get to make it all come true? Space is our Wild West of the past few generations if you will, and these are our cowboys and cowgirls blazing a trail before all others.

Thank you to the families for supporting and loving them while they chased thier dream. Say a prayer and never forget them, not as heroes for dying , but for living and daring to make thier dreams a reality...

[Ryan S]

Originally posted by Ryche
I'm not sure how we bring them back, but I'd guess either they will come back on an escape pod attached to the station or with a foreign space program that visits the station.

I am pretty sure they will come back on the next shuttle flight. The next shuttle flight was due to bring 3 guys down, and to ask another country to send up a craft to get them down is probably an impossible task. These kind of missions will take months to plan and train for, and they don't have that kind of time.


Originally posted by Ryche
But with the money put into the space station, I can't imagine we will abandon it. You would hope they have a contingency plan in case such an accident occured.

Not to mention the vast sums of money put into the project by other countries. The ISS and the space program are not going anywhere.

I don't think there is any need to stop the space program. NASA has only lost 17 astronauts in their existence. That is an incredible safety record considering the dangers of the profession.

[Senator]

Are you guys getting Jennings, Brokaw, and Rather? All we are getting is the local north texas stations, and they keep showing the same piece of 2 inch metal in a farmers field.

[mrskippy]

Originally posted by Senator
Are you guys getting Jennings, Brokaw, and Rather? All we are getting is the local north texas stations, and they keep showing the same piece of 2 inch metal in a farmers field.

You're getting a local angle that most Americans aren't getting. That's good journalism.

[Draft Dodger]

This event hits me hard, just like the Challenger disaster (I remember that day well - I was home from school with the chicken pox, and my mom called from a friends house to break the news). It's the first thing in my life where I'll always remember where I was and what I was doing when it happened, like the Kennedy assassination was for my mother.

When I was a kid in the late '70s, we lived outside of Barstow. They used to test the Enterprise in that area (from Edwards AFB, I think). It wasn't uncommon at all for us to be riding to school and having the Enterprise following along above us. We also got a chance one time to go to Edwards and see the Enterprise close up - a real neat experience for me as a kid.

Later, we were living in LA when the Columbia went up on that inagural voyage. Almost on a whim, we all piled into the family Volkswagen van and went out to Edwards, camped out overnight, and watched the Columbia land the next day. Something I remember very well to this day.

This is very sad.

[sachmo71]

Canceling the space program with the economy in the shape that it's in would be a very bad idea, I think. In times like these, we need something to stand behind and believe in. Space exploration gives us hope for the future and a better life. I hope they can do just what they said this morning, figure out what went wrong, fix it, and move on. There is too much to be gained to give up.

If they need someone to go up in a shuttle right now, I'll be the first in line.

[MizzouRah]

Very sad indeed. Wow, I can't believe this has happened again.

I'm really curious to see what they find out.

I will keep them in my prayers.


Todd

[sabotai]

Just to echo what a few others have said.

NASA has a VERY good safety record considering. 42 years, onyl 3 fatal accidents. That's pretty damn good.

I don't think it's wise to start spelling out the end of NASA over one accident. It sucks that people died and we lost a shuttle, but they knew the dangers they were getting into just like anyone who seeks a dangerous profession. They accept it and know that there is a risk.

The last accident was 17 years ago. There have been a ton of shuttle flights into space and back since. Let's just hope it'll be at least another 17 before another fatal accident happens.

[ACStrider]

I feel a little isolated because I don't have a tv. As much as regular programming drives me up a wall, it's times like these where television connnects a nation and the world. I still remember in second grade when my school as well as many across the nation brought the students into a media room to watch the Challenger liftoff. I was little then, but I still remember it. The Challenger, the fall of the Soviet Union, Columbine, and 9/11 are memories of my lifetime to this point. The Columbia is tragic and I will keep the families affected in my prayers, but somehow I don't feel as connected as in the other world-shaking events.

[sachmo71]

Strider,

I can see your point about not feeling connected. Right now I wish I could feel that way. Since I live in north central Texas, I feel like it's going to be a while until this tragedy moves itself into the back of my mind. Watching the news today and seeing pictures of pieces of the shuttle lying smoldering on spots that I have stood is erie to say the least. All day I had the thought, however irrational, that some big hunk of metal was going to come screaming down and smash into my house. I can't stop thinking about what happened, and a I think a big part of that is because it happened in my backyard. I can't wait until everything feels normal again.

[Anrhydeddu]

Once again (as with 9/11), I get news of a tragic event via FOFC. :(

[Craptacular]

I was playing Parsec on a TI computer in grade school when the Challenger blew up. I was in 5th grade at the time, and in our school, grades 1-4 watched the shuttle launches on TV. I remember one of my younger neighbors coming out in the hall and telling me what happened. That remains the first big public tragedy where I clearly remember where I was, etc. (I vaguely remember the assassination attempt on Reagan).

This morning, I slept in past 10 AM, and came out to see the news on CNN.

I've always loved the space program; my favorite book (A Man on the Moon) and one of my all-time favorite TV programs (From the Earth to the Moon) were about the Apollo program. Like many other kids, I dreamed of being an astronaut. The program will live on, and will take us places we've only begun to dream about. The 17 astronauts that have perished would have it no other way.

[mrskippy]

When the Challenger blew up I was in the fifth grade and we had just been studying about Explorers. The teacher didn't tell our class until the very end of the day. I'll never forget how she told us. She started by talking about our studies, how all exploration comes with risks. When she said the Space Shuttle, I already knew (even in fifth grade) that something bad happened. My heart just sank. I was speechless and in shock.

Today I had just launched Yahoo to check for some e-mail and saw the headline. I jumped up, ran to the living room, and turned on CNN. I couldn't believe it. Once again, my heart just sank. And again I was shocked.

This is one of those events I'll never forget. When the US started bombing Iraq in the first Gulf War I was at a baseball card shop and had just pulled several great cards. It was a horrifying evening that left me in fear that we would be attacked in the US. On 9/11 my uncle had called to alert us to turn on the news. And than today.

I've been watching the news all day, hearing the stories and crying with the rest of America at this tragic loss.

Skippy

[sachmo71]

I just saw on the news that a man in east Texas found human remains on his property. How horrible must that have been? I can't imagine...

[Ksyrup]

I can remember the Reagan assassination attempt. I distinctly recall coming back from a field trip and hearing the news on the bus driver's radio as I was getting off of the bus.