Series of EmergencyNet News
"Real-Time" Reports Concerning the Disintegration of Space Shuttle Columbia
- 01 Feb to 03 Feb, 2003
From: ERRI EMERGENCY SERVICES REPORT-EmergencyNet NEWS Service-Monday, February 3, 2003-Vol. 7 - 034
NATIONAL NEWS
Some Astronaut Remains Found
EASTERN TEXAS: Despite the space shuttle Columbia's disintegration 39 miles above the Earth, forensics experts think the astronauts could be genetically identified after some remains from the seven- member crew were recovered in rural east Texas. NASA officials said on Sunday that there have been at least three reports of local officials finding body parts found on farmland and along rural roads near the Texas-Louisiana state line. That's the same region where the search for shuttle debris is concentrating.
NASA engineers settled into the long task of figuring out how Columbia broke apart, saying conditions in the shuttle's final minutes point to a possible problem with its critical heat-protection tiles. NASA says new evidence shows that the temperature on Columbia's left side shot up and the ship was buffeted by greater wind resistance before it disintegrated over Texas.
Sunday 2nd February 2003
From: ERRI EMERGENCY SERVICES REPORT-EmergencyNet NEWS Service-Sunday, February 2, 2003-Vol. 7 - 033
NATIONAL NEWS
Remains Found Among Shuttle Debris
EASTERN TEXAS: Human remains were found among the debris left by the space shuttle Columbia, which disintegrated just minutes before its scheduled landing on Saturday. All seven astronauts on board were killed when the craft broke up after re-entering the Earth's atmosphere. Three separate investigations are opening into the disaster -- the space agency NASA will conduct its own investigation, as will the US Congress, and the government is forming an independent commission to try to discover what went wrong.
The Columbia crew was killed almost exactly 17 years after the Challenger shuttle exploded on lift-off. The future of the shuttle program -- and of NASA's manned space exploration -- remains unclear.
NASA said it did not yet know what caused the break-up of the shuttle 39 miles above the Earth. Problems were first noticed when sensors on the left wing malfunctioned 23 minutes before the scheduled touchdown and six minutes before the shuttle disintegrated. That wing was hit by a piece of insulating foam which peeled away from the external fuel tank a little more than a minute into Columbia's launch on 16 January. The incident was spotted and checked but NASA said there was no reason to be concerned about the tiles which cover the shuttle to protect it from the extreme heat of re-entry.
Hours after the disaster, NASA shuttle manager Ron Dittemore said: "As we look at that now in hindsight ... we can't discount that there might be a connection. But... we can't rush to judgement on it because there are a lot of things in this business that look like the smoking gun but turn out not even to be close."
Experts have suggested that the problems are likely to have been mechanical or structural. A key part of the investigation -- which will take weeks or months to complete -- will be analyzing the pieces of the shuttle which rained down from the sky over eastern Texas and western Louisiana.
Body parts believed to be from the astronauts have been recovered near Hemphill in eastern Texas near the state's border with Louisiana along with a helmet and uniform badges. The remains have been removed for DNA testing.
Large parts of the shuttle have been found about 30 miles away in Nacogdoches but the debris is spread over a huge area. At least eight people in Hemphill needed hospital treatment for burns and breathing problems after getting too close to pieces of the wreckage. NASA warned that any debris found should be avoided as it could be hazardous.
Columbia had been due to land at 0916 EST at the end of a 16-day mission. Contact was lost at about 0900 EST. NASA said the shuttle was about 200,000 feet up and traveling at 12,500 mph at the time.
Television pictures showed a vapor trail from the craft as it flew over Dallas. It then appeared to disintegrate into several separate vapor trails, and witnesses in the area said they heard "big bangs" which also shook their homes.
NASA Notices:
02 Feb 2003
Debris Warning
Hazardous chemicals may be present in debris. Do not handle or move any debris.
Located Debris
All debris is United States Government property and is critical to the
investigation of the shuttle accident. Any and 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. If you find any debris, please call the Johnson Space Center Emergency
Operations Center, (281) 483-3388 or send e-mail to: columbiaimages@nasa.gov
======================
Instructions for Uploading Digital Evidence to NASA
For anyone who has recorded video or taken photos that they believe may be of
aid in the investigation of the Space Shuttle Columbia accident, NASA has
established a special location on the Web where Internet users may upload their
media files to be reviewed by NASA.
Using the FTP method of your choice, log on to the server 38.201.67.72 as
"anonymous," using your e-mail address as your password.
Example:
User ID: anonymous
Password: john_doe@hotmail.com
Along with any image or video file that you wish to upload, please include a
text file containing your name and a detailed description of the time and
location at which the image or video was taken.
Additional Information:
Additional information, references, pictures and advisories from NASA can be reviewed at: http://www.nasa.gov/columbia/
WORLDWIDE
The
World Reacts to the Loss of Space Shuttle Columbia
By Jeremy Zakis, ERRI Analyst in Australia
The world has reacted to Saturday morning's catastrophic break-up of the Space
Shuttle Columbia over Texas with sympathy and sorrow. Russia's Rosaviakosmos
Space Agency has called the disaster a terrible tragedy and extended their
deepest sympathies to NASA and the families of crewmembers on board the
ill-fated flight.
India is coming to terms with the loss of their first female astronaut, Kalpana
Chawla, who was the payload specialist for this mission. At the time of the
disaster the front page of many Indian newspapers were already carrying pictures
and headlines celebrating the return of Chawla and her crew mates from a
successful mission. Late editions carried news of the tragedy.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has paid tribute to Ilan Ramon, the Israeli
Air Force Pilot who was payload specialist aboard Columbia. Sharon described him
as a "brave Israeli citizen," and passed along his condolences to the families
of crewmembers in a private telephone conversation with President Bush. Ramon
was a decorated Israeli Air Force Pilot, who reportedly participated in a 1981
air strike against Iraq that resulted in the destruction of an Iraqi nuclear
reactor.
Iraqi citizens have reportedly welcomed the news of the crash, telling several
media outlets that the accident is "God's way of taking vengeance" on the United
States for its potential actions against Iraq. One Iraqi government employee is
quoted by the Reuters news service as saying, ""We are happy that it [space
shuttle] broke up." Abdul Jabbar al-Quraishi is also quoted as saying, "God
wants to show that his might is greater than the Americans. They have encroached
on our country. God is avenging us," he said.
President Bush Declares Emergency In Texas And Louisiana In Response To Space
Shuttle Tragedy
President's Declaration Helps Ensure Responders Have The Resources They Need
Release No.: 03-028
Release Date: February 1, 2003
» Complete Coverage of the Texas Emergency Declaration
» Complete Coverage of the Louisiana Emergency Declaration
Washington, DC -- President George W. Bush today declared that an emergency
exists in the states of Texas and Louisiana in the wake of the loss of space
shuttle Columbia. Pursuant to the Stafford Act, the President's declaration
authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate federal
aid and ensure that responders to this tragedy have the resources they need.
"I had the honor and privilege to meet the families of the Columbia astronauts
at its launch and my sincere condolences and prayers go out to them," said FEMA
Director Joe M. Allbaugh. "As President Bush said, because of the courage,
daring and idealism of these heroes, they will be deeply missed. The men and
women at FEMA will do all that we possibly can to help our friends at NASA
during these trying days."
The President's action authorizes the use of immediate assistance to protect
public health and safety. Federal assistance can range from the use of Federal
personnel and equipment to provisions for medical and other emergency supplies.
The declaration authorizes FEMA to pay up to one hundred percent of the costs of
personnel or supplies.
In support of the search, find and secure mission already underway, FEMA has
made its Emergency Support Team operational at FEMA headquarters in Washington,
D.C., and at a regional operations center in Denton, Texas. FEMA is responsible
for coordinating federal assets.
Last Updated: Saturday, 01-Feb-2003 23:02:06 EST
Source: http://www.fema.gov/diz03/hq03_028.shtm
This incident being coordinated by: FEMA Region VI
Federal Regional Center
800 N. Loop 288
Denton, Texas 76209
(940) 898-5399
President Addresses Nation on Space Shuttle Columbia Tragedy
2:04 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: 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.
END 2:08 P.M. EST
NASA Statement:
A Space Shuttle contingency was declared earlier this morning in Mission Control when communication was lost with the Space Shuttle Columbia during its return to Earth following a 16-day mission.
Communication and tracking of the shuttle was lost at 09:00 a.m.(EST) at an altitude of about 203,000 feet above north central Texas while traveling approximately 12,500 miles per hour (Mach 18). No communication and tracking information was received in Mission Control after that time.
Flight controllers in Mission Control immediately began the process of securing all information, notes and data pertinent to today's reentry and landing.
NASA TV is on AMC-2, Transponder 9C, vertical polarization at 85 degrees West longitude, 3880 MHz, with audio at 6.8 MHz.
NOTE TO PERSONS IN THE AREA: Anyone who believes they have found debris related to Columbia should call the Johnson Space Center Emergency Operations Center, (281)-483-3388. Be aware that hazardous chemicals may be present; do not disturb or move any debris.
All debris is United States Government property and is critical to the investigation of the shuttle accident. Any and 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.
NASA Home Page STS-107 Overview
INSTANT
10:00CST - 01 Feb 2003
Officials; Terrorism Not Suspected
WASHINGTON, DC (Emergencynet News) -- Bush administration officials said they had no immediate information Saturday that terrorism was involved as NASA lost contact with the space shuttle Columbia. A senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to the Associated Press, said there was no threat made against the flight and that the shuttle, at an altitude of 207,000 feet over north-central Texas when it lost contact, was out of range of a surface-to-air missile.
ERRI Counter-Terrorism experts said they had already received calls inquiring about the possibility of terrorism because of the fact that the current flight was manned by the first Israeli astronaut, Col. Ilan Ramon. ERRI crisis analysts said that speculation about potential causes for the apparent catastrophic system failure is premature and inappropriate at this juncture, and until additional facts can be ascertained. EmergencyNet News will bring you additional official details as they become available...
08:30CST - 01 February 2003
Emergency Declared During Space Shuttle Columbia Landing
KENNEDY
SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, FL (EmergencyNet News) -- According to the National
Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA), a contingency [emergency] has
been declared as Space Shuttle Columbia was in its final phases of
landing.
Apparently radar contact and voice communications were lost at about 08:02CST as the shuttle passed over Texas. Video of the shuttle as it passed over Texas shows what appears to be the shuttle "breaking up." People on the ground are describing a sound that they heard as a "large boom," at approximately the same time that contact with the shuttle was lost. Search and rescue teams have been notified in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.
A NASA spokesman at Mission Control-Houston warned citizens not to touch any debris that they might find, and to immediately notify local law enforcement about the location of such objects. No other official details have been provided by NASA at this time.
ERRI **FLASH** REPORT
EmergencyNet NEWS Service
Saturday, February 1, 2003, 09:30EST
COMMUNICATIONS LOST WITH US SPACE SHUTTLE
HOUSTON, TEXAS: NASA has reported that communications has been lost with the US space shuttle Columbia that was supposed to be land in Florida at 0916 EST this morning. Communications was lost at about 0900 EST. The fate of the spacecraft and its crew is unknown.
ERRI continues to monitor the situation ...
© EmergencyNet News Service, 2003. All rights reserved. May not
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News.
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