February 1, 2003: Another American Tragedy

When the Space Shuttle Columbia broke up on re-entry. At approximately 8:00 AM central time, news video from stations in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area showed multiple contrails and pieces as it passed 100 miles south of Dallas. CNN reports.

Update: 10:03 AM CST
It's gut wrenching to watch the video of the shuttle breaking up over and over. News reports are now saying that search and rescue teams have found debris on the ground in east Texas. NASA apparently has decided that all the astronauts are dead because the flag was lowered at Johnson Space Center.

Update: 10:15 AM CST
Debris from the space shuttle has been found in St. Augustine County in east Texas.

Update: 10:35 AM CST
CNN reports debris in Nacogdoches, TX.

Update: 10:39 AM CST
The "contrail" from Columbia can be seen on weather radar from Dallas and Shreveport.
NWS composite image of shuttle.bmp

Update: 11:01 AM CST
Reports are coming in from Arkansas that debris has been found there. A local Houston station is reporting that parts have been found in Houston. I find that not credible considering that one station is reporting that pieces are radioactive.

Update: 11:39 AM CST
Reports from Jasper, TX about finding debris and human remains.

Comment: Many people report that the sound from the breakup was loud enough to shake their homes. This had to be an explosion almost beyond comprehension, on the order of an atomic blast to be heard from 40 miles away.

Update: 11:58 AM CST
NWS radar is still showing a "debris field" at altitude across the eastern part of Texas and western part of Louisiana.
NWS composite image at 1149 AM CST.bmp

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In memory

Shuttle commander Rick D. Husband, Pilot William C. McCool, Payload Commander Michael P. Anderson, Mission Specialists David M. Brown, Kalpana Chawla and Laurel Clark and Israel's first astronaut, Ilan Ramon

Comment: This was the 28th flight for Columbia and the 113th flight for the entire shuttle fleet.

Update: The despicable Iraqi response to the shuttle disaster.

Update: 3:44 PM CST
After watching the NASA press conference, I'm convinced that something happened to the left wing/side of the orbiter. There was an incident on launch where some insulation broke off the booster and impacted the side of the orbiter. They probably had no way to make a visual inspection of the area before re-entry so an engineering analysis was performed. The engineers were satisfied that things would be OK. Looks like there was more damage than they anticipated.

Comment: I just learned that the shuttle is designed to withstand only 3 Gs. I've pulled that much in a 172.

Text Of President Bush's Address To The Nation:

My fellow Americans, this day has brought terrible news and great sadness to our country. At 9:00 a.m. this morning, Mission Control in Houston lost contact with our Space Shuttle Columbia. A short time later, debris was seen falling from the skies above Texas. The Columbia is lost; there are no survivors.

On board was a crew of seven: Colonel Rick Husband; Lt. Colonel Michael Anderson; Commander Laurel Clark; Captain David Brown; Commander William McCool; Dr. Kalpana Chawla; and Ilan Ramon, a Colonel in the Israeli Air Force. These men and women assumed great risk in the service to all humanity.

In an age when space flight has come to seem almost routine, it is easy to overlook the dangers of travel by rocket, and the difficulties of navigating the fierce outer atmosphere of the Earth. These astronauts knew the dangers, and they faced them willingly, knowing they had a high and noble purpose in life. Because of their courage and daring and idealism, we will miss them all the more.

All Americans today are thinking, as well, of the families of these men and women who have been given this sudden shock and grief. You're not alone. Our entire nation grieves with you. And those you loved will always have the respect and gratitude of this country.

The cause in which they died will continue. Mankind is led into the darkness beyond our world by the inspiration of discovery and the longing to understand. Our journey into space will go on.

In the skies today we saw destruction and tragedy. Yet farther than we can see there is comfort and hope. In the words of the prophet Isaiah, "Lift your eyes and look to the heavens. Who created all these? He who brings out the starry hosts one by one and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing."

The same Creator who names the stars also knows the names of the seven souls we mourn today. The crew of the shuttle Columbia did not return safely to Earth; yet we can pray that all are safely home.

May God bless the grieving families, and may God continue to bless America.