Columbia loses contact before landing

February 1, 2003 7:06 AM

Space shuttle Columbia lost contact with Houston before landing.
posted by costas (13 comments total)

Damn, sorry for the double, too shocked to scroll down...
posted by costas at 7:07 AM on February 1, 2003

That's OK. If anything deserves a double post this does.

This saddens me greatly.

I hope we don't stop reaching for the stars.
posted by EmoChild at 7:22 AM on February 1, 2003

if this gets turned into justification for war, i will personally end the world.
posted by clango at 7:36 AM on February 1, 2003

Clango?
You have that sort of power?
posted by EmoChild at 7:38 AM on February 1, 2003

My prayers for the crew.

Furthermore, as before, it's going to be the net that will provide the most source of information: everyone ought to keep their eyes open for that missing shuttle - though apparently one should keep one's distance from the debris.

I bet NASA could use your help down there in the South. It's gotta be somewhere.

This is just awful. I was listening live when Challenger exploded, and I'm just sick about those on board. I hope by some miracle that they survived.
posted by mirla at 7:40 AM on February 1, 2003

Please post in this thread
posted by daver at 7:41 AM on February 1, 2003

Now why did you re-link the thread you're currently on, daver?
posted by mirla at 7:42 AM on February 1, 2003

Is it even theoretically possible that anyone would survive?
posted by EmoChild at 7:43 AM on February 1, 2003

No. It was moving at approx. 12,000 mph and at 207,000 feet.
posted by Vidiot at 7:47 AM on February 1, 2003

Post here.
posted by yonderboy at 7:47 AM on February 1, 2003

NASA seems to've given up on them, despite not issuing an official statement. While digging around for information on Columbia, I came across this page, which is the NASA site on the history of the space shuttles. As of 10:46am EST, it was reporting that Columbia had been lost along with her crew, unfortunately.
posted by Pseudoephedrine at 8:03 AM on February 1, 2003

The original Mefi post is here. Go there to post.
posted by mirla at 8:16 AM on February 1, 2003

"Though we are not now that strength, which in old days moved earth and heaven. That which we are, we are. One equal temper of heroic hearts, made weak by time and fates, but strong in will. To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield." -Alfred Lord Tennyson, from Ulysses.

Now three times in my life I have witnessed heartbreaking events on TV: the first was the Challenger explosion, the second was the 9/11 attacks, and now the third is this heartbreaking tragedy.

Godspeed Columbia! May God bless the crew of Columbia!
posted by jasonbondshow at 8:33 AM on February 1, 2003