Space Shuttle Columbia lost in flight: NYT index to coverage.
The Space Shuttle Columbia, flying mission STS-107, broke up in flight over Nacogdoches, Texas at about 9 am Eastern time this morning. All aboard are presumed lost. Nacogdoches is near the eastern, Louisiana border of the state.
Not my favorite way to start a Saturday. I recall only too well the loss of Challenger. Color scheme changes here are in temporary recognition of the loss.
(The picture is of Columbia in a 1990 night launch. The spacecraft first flew a mission in 1981. Which I must say I find to be of interest. As I finish this entry, I see the NYT has added the item “Ship was fleet’s oldest” to the pre-news conference head. )
UPDATE: (2p PST) I just found a huge stash of clippings I’ve had since April, 1981. That first mission that Columbia flew in 1981? It was also the very first orbital mission for any shuttle. I will look through the clippings and scan a few, I expect.
UPDATES – added immediately following initial entry, circa 1pm
In the 3pm EST news conference, NASA personell described telemetry data indicating anomalous readings originating on a left wing elevon (a wing flap) and spreading to indicate loss of tire pressure on a landing gear. Unfortunately I did not think to take notes, but I recall thinking, “Oh.”
MetaFilter coverage begins at 6:23 am, less than ten minutes after the initial reports of the loss of communication with the shuttle.
links from that thread include:
a mirror of the pulled eBay auction (see below)
an animated gif of the debris problems noted on launch of the mission and the article it’s related to
a photo from a gound onlooker – not verified
an IRC feed excerpt which includes this commentary from a participant:
02/01/03 09:00 AM
Re: re entry visibility [re: astronaut23]
They got some tire pressure messages……….I hope not the left main gear, that is about where the ET foam hit the tiles………
the planned landing paths from NASA
The Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel
Some interesting links from BoingBoing:
eBay debris listings (appeared by noon EST, discussion at Fark)
Eagerly awaiting your thoughts, given our discussion from a few weeks ago.
Hm, not sure what to say, Scott – it’s a terrible tragedy, and I’m really sorry for the persons who perished and their loved ones.
I will be looking through that sheaf of newspaper and magazine clippings on the April, 1981 first orbital mission of Columbia I noted with an eye to sharing them here, and that will probably prompt an essay.
And my stylesheet has been changed to reflect my desire to note a period of mourning here… but some browsers may not reflect this unless you force a refresh.
Go here for a moment and do a force refresh, then come back:
http://mike.whybark.com/styles-site.css
what the…
I started noticing incoming hits from the MeFi link, so I investigated… and somehow my copy of MT managed to insert me about SEVEN TIMES as a trackbacker at the bottom of the list!
Geez, that’s totally embarrassing! Also, W – T – F!!
Off to MT fora to ask the all-knowing, all-seeing.
And my apologies to any cheesed MeFi folks, beleive me, it ain’t deliberate.