Columbia Lost.

[Targhan]

We regretfully inform you that the space-shuttle Columbia was lost to an accident today over north-central Texas, USA.  Currently, no one expects any survivors.  Our sympathies goes out to the families who have lost a loved one in this terrible accident.

This is a tragic day for the United States, NASA, and technology.  The shuttle program, and likely the entire U.S. space program, will likely come to a near halt while the accident is being investigated.  

More News:
www.foxnews.com www.cnn.com

[Klatch]

This is terrible news. I have great respect for nasa and all their men and women. I hope they discover what happened quickly.

Not to make light of the subject, but the sts-107
patch appears to have a shooting star on it. Similar to the images of the shuttles demise.
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/images/sts107_patch.gif

More info on the patches meaning at
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-107/html/sts107-s-001.html

The seven stars (on patch) represent the mission crew members and honor the original astronauts who paved the way to make research in space possible. The constellation Columba (the dove(the seven stars)) was chosen to symbolize peace on Earth and the Space Shuttle Columbia.

With all Respect,
James Hamrick

[Opi-Poi]

:cry:

[AmiNTT]

This isn't what I really thought I'd wake up to this morning.  It is really terrible, and quite a shock.

I've always been a space buff, right back to my earliest memories.  I remember the Challenger disaster quite vividly - I was in high school at the time.  

There is plenty of speculation as to what caused it, but it may have to to with some damage to the left wing on take off from a piece of insulation from the center tank.

Astronauts have always been heros to me, and its really terrible to see this.

Additional News Links:
Canada.com

CTV news (video available)

Local6.com Live video

Global News Live Video (Canadian)

Google news

3:34pm Nasa Press conference
They lost temperature information on the left wing, the loss of temperature data and then loss of tire pressure data just before the loss of contact.

3:48pm
From the breakdown of the information that NASA has given out it appears to *me* that the damage sustained to the left wing on launch probably was more serious than was first thought.  Upon re-entry, the left wing's damage allowed heat into the frame of the wing, eventually taking it off, and then making the orbiter tumble until it broke apart.

At the velocity and heat levels involved I don't expect that the astronauts felt very much.  That much is fortunate, rather than what some of the astronauts on Challenger experienced.

A terrible day indeed.

[L8-X]

Sad day. :-(

My respects go to their families.

[jumpship]

To all the family and friends of the seven who died on the shuttle, my thoughts are with you

 :cry:

[SilvrDrgn]

Thoughts and prayers to the astronauts and their families.  This is a very sad day.  :-(

[Waccoon]

Too many people forget how much technical precision it takes to pull of a space mission and how much risk is involved.  There's no such thing as a "routine" shuttle launch, and each mission shows the dedication and expertise of everyone in the space program, both on the ground and above.

Now is the time to mourn those lost, and appreciate their sacrifice.  Let's not forget how much work it takes to get the job done, and how much work it will take to keep going.

[System]

A sad day here in Tennessee.    :-(

[Herewegoagain]

Very sad indeed.

This was the first shuttle mission for 4 of the 7 onboard.  This mission also included Colonel Ilan Ramon,  the first Israeli in space.

Thoughts and prayers go out for the families of those lost in this accident.

[Troels_E]

RIP



:-(

[Rigger]

Very sad. They all knew the risks involved, still they went. Each grateful for the opportunity. The greatest honor we can offer is not letting this accident hinder the further exploration and experimentation in space. By continuing we can marginally offer the respect they deserve for their contributions to humanity.

NASA Emergency Notice

[Bodie]

:cry:

For more information on this disaster head on over to http://www.space.com  .

My respect goes out to all the families of the crew.

[Billsey]

For Whom Shall I Weep?

For whom shall I weep?

Seven souls who knew the way
Did not make it home one day
Listen to the talking heads cry out
For the world to mourn and shout
They knew the risk and knew the way
But did not make it home one day

For whom shall I weep?

Seven thousand snatched away
To Mengela’s open jaws today
Listen for the news to seep
Not a whimper, not a peep
For whom shall I weep today?
Seven thousand snatched away

For whom shall I weep?
Seven thousand fall to sleep
For whom shall I weep?
For whom shall I weep?
For whom shall I weep?

© copyright 2003 William F. Maddock


It's not just the babies. It's also the mothers who are victims.

Still, it is a tragedy, and as my anger swirls around the hypocrisy of the media, my thoughts and prayers are also for the families of the astronauts.

[Dagon]

I`m sorry  :-(
It reminds me the tragedy of the Challenger when I was a little.