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)