Saturday, February 01, 2003

Background Information on the COLUMBIA Space Shuttle Mission STS-107 Background Information on the COLUMBIA Space Shuttle Mission STS-107 http://www.nasa.gov/columbia.html  STS-107 Mission Summary STS-107 Flight: January 16-February 1, 2003 Crew: Commander Rick D. Husband (second flight), Pilot William C. McCool (first flight), Payload Specialist Michael P. Anderson (second flight), Mission Specialist Kalpana Chawla (second flight), Mission Specialist David M. Brown (first flight), Mission Specialist Laurel B. Clark (first flight), Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon, Israel (first flight) Payload: First flight of SPACEHAB Research Double Module; Fast Reaction Experiments Enabling Science, Technology, Applications and Research (FREESTAR); first Extended Duration Orbiter (EDO) mission since STS-90. This 16-day mission is dedicated to research in physical, life, and space sciences, to be conducted in approximately 80 separate experiments, comprised of hundreds of samples and test points. The seven astronauts worked 24 hours a day, in two alternating shifts. 28 flights 1981-2003. First flight: April 12-14, 1981 (Crew John W. Young and Robert Crippen) Most recent flight: STS-109, March 1-12, 2002 Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission Other notable missions: STS 1 through 5, 1981-1982 first flight of European Space Agency built Spacelab. STS-50, June 25-July 9, 1992, first extended-duration Space Shuttle mission. STS-93, July 1999 placement in orbit of Chandra X-Ray Observatory. Past mission anomaly: STS-83, April 4-8, 1997. Mission was cut short by Shuttle managers due to a problem with fuel cell No. 2, which displayed evidence of internal voltage degradation after the launch. Crew Biographies Mission Overview 3:04:21 PM    comment []

NASA ASKS FOR HELP WITH COLUMBIA INVESTIGATION NASA ASKS FOR HELP WITH COLUMBIA INVESTIGATION Robert Mirelson Headquarters, Washington Feb. 1, 2003 (Phone: 202/358-1600) 5 p.m. EST Eileen Hawley Johnson Space Center, Houston (Phone: 281-483-5111) RELEASE: 03-033 NASA ASKS FOR HELP WITH COLUMBIA INVESTIGATION NASA has established a telephone hotline and electronic mail address for the public to use for reporting information that may help investigators studying today's Space Shuttle mishap. Anyone who discovers debris from the accident or who has film or video evidence that may be of value to the investigation team is urged to use these contacts. Please avoid contact with any debris, because it may be hazardous as a result of toxic propellants aboard the Shuttle. Telephone reports should be directed to the following number: 281/483-3388 Text reports and images should be e-mailed to: nasamitimages@jsc.nasa.gov The e-mail address is: columbiaimages@nasa.gov All debris is U.S. Government property and is critical to the investigation of the mishap. All debris from the accident is to be left alone and reported to Government authorities. Unauthorized persons found in possession of accident debris will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. -end- 2:52:12 PM    comment []

NASA STATEMENT ON LOSS OF COMMUNICATIONS WITH COLUMBIA Robert Mirelson Headquarters, Washington Feb. 1, 2003 (Phone: 202/358-1600) RELEASE: 03-030 NASA STATEMENT ON LOSS OF COMMUNICATIONS WITH COLUMBIA A Space Shuttle contingency has been declared in Mission Control, Houston, as a result of the loss of communication with the Space Shuttle Columbia at approximately 9 a.m. EST Saturday as it descended toward a landing at the Kennedy Space Center, Fla. It was scheduled to touchdown at 9:16 a.m. EST. Communication and tracking of the shuttle was lost at 9 a.m. EST at an altitude of about 203,000 feet in the area above north central Texas. At the time communications were lost. The shuttle was traveling approximately 12,500 miles per hour (Mach 18). No communication and tracking information were received in Mission Control after that time. Search and rescue teams in the Dallas-Fort Worth and in portions of East Texas have been alerted. Any debris that is located in the area that may be related to the Space Shuttle contingency should be avoided and may be hazardous as a result of toxic propellants used aboard the shuttle. The location of any possible debris should immediately be reported to local authorities. Flight controllers in Mission Control have secured all information, notes and data pertinent to today's entry and landing by Space Shuttle Columbia and continue to methodically proceed through contingency plans. More information will be released as it becomes available. 10:20:51 AM    comment []

SHUTTLE COLUMBIA FEARED LOST 02/01/2003 This just in. NEWSALERT: Saturday, February 1, 2003 @ 1522 GMT --------------------------------------------------------------------- The latest news from Astronomy Now and Spaceflight Now   SHUTTLE COLUMBIA FEARED LOST ---------------------------- The space shuttle Columbia has broken up in the skies over Texas. Its crew of seven astronauts are feared dead. Mission control lost contact with the shuttle around 9 a.m. EST (1400 GMT), about 16 minutes before its planned touchdown in Florida. Emergency proceedures are in effect and search and rescue teams have been alerted in the north and east areas of Texas, where any debris might have fallen. Check the mission status center for the latest developments. http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts107/status.html ---------------------------------------- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2716369.stm 9:11:57 AM    comment []