Beginning at approx. 8 am CT this morning we began receiving calls into the 911 center here in NW Louisiana about a object in the sky that was in flames and falling into pieces. CNN now reports that NASA lost contact with the space shuttle Columbia over Texas as it approached landing.

Edited by Sue943 to indicate what the news is regarding.

It exploded over Dallas this morning. There are warnings here not to touch any debris because of hazardous materials that may be on pieces of the Shuttle. People in the area said the sound of the explosion was like that of a train going by a house.

This occurred nearly 17 years to the day of the Challenger explosion. Security had been increased because the shuttle crew included the first Isreali astronaut and also one from India. The debris is likely scattered for hundreds of miles SE of Dallas. Pray for the families.

Edited by Sue to make topic title clearer as to the subject.

Our thoughts must go to the crew and family, and also the people in Texas at this moment.

As I write this...it's still falling...though I watched it on a few internet news sites...but I'm wondering how they've informed the populations to stay under cover or what?
I know that the emergency warning system must be in effect, but curious about what sort of warnings they're giving you.

This is a tragic event...

tragic news! My thoughts are with the family and crew of the 'Columbia'

With this news one cannot help but wonder if foul play was involved, particularly as relates to the fact that an Israeli national and an Indian-born American were on board. However, thus far there has been no suggestion that any terrorist activity was involved in the incident. The shuttle was at an elevation of over 200,000 ft. when the incident (for lack of a better word) occurred...lending doubt to any possible foul play.

I feel terribly that we have lost these seven accomplished individuals...what a tragic day.

I wonder what this means now for the space shuttle program and for NASA in general? Do two tragic incidents in 30 years translate as a terrible record, or are events like this sadly to be expected in this still relatively new human venture (space exploration)?

sad doesn't say enough but it's all I can think off at the moment......

There is no warning system going on in N. Texas right now. Pieces are falling from north central Texas all the way north to the Oklahoma border. I only knew since a friend called me and I turned on the news.

What terrible news.

I don't think this bodes well for the NASA program; they've had a pretty poor record in the 1990s as well, and they've lost a lot of unmanned spacecraft due to stupid, careless errors and a nonstarter "Faster better cheaper" philosophy. The Columbia had been flying since 1981 and there have got to be some questions about whether it was obsolescent and should have been off the ground at all; didn't it lose a piece of its wing on liftoff this time round?

It's one thing to mix up Imperial and metric units, or leave out a few lines of code, and lose a very expensive but unmanned lander. It's another for carelessness to have potentially killed seven of the best and brightest, almost on the anniversary of the time another careless mistake cost the lives of another set of astronauts. I predict it will be a long time before NASA recommences any daring or cutting-edge space programs.

From MSNBC (copied it here because it took 10 minutes to load):

ACROSS TEXAS and New Mexico, explosions were reported to local law enforcement authorities and news agencies. In Dallas, NBC News’ Jim Cummins reported that a loud explosion was heard at about the same time NASA lost contact with the spacecraft — a time when the shuttle was flying at 200,700 feet, traveling at 12,500 mph.
Soon after that, witnesses say, what appeared to be a spacecraft plummeted to Earth, disintegrating in flames along the way.
Janet Smith-Bozart, who was driving near Dallas, saw what is believed to be the shuttle’s descent and described it to MSNBC.
“I thought at first it might be a meteor coming into the atmosphere and then I realized it was much too big and much too slow for that,” she said. “Essentially the entire thing just broke apart and the whole thing just disappeared. ... Eventually it just sort of faded and there was no more contrail or anything.”
Explosions were widely reported across Texas.
“It was like a car hitting the house or an explosion. It shook that much,” John Ferolito, 60, of Carrolton, north of Dallas, told the Associated Press.

SUDDEN DISAPPEARANCE
Columbia had been scheduled to land at 9:16 a.m. It was the 113th flight in the shuttle program’s 22 years and the 28th flight for Columbia, NASA oldest shuttle. In 42 years of human space flight, NASA has never lost a space crew during landing or the ride back to orbit, though in 1986, space shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after liftoff.
Mission control lost both voice and radar communication with the shuttle several minutes before it’s expected landing time.
“A contingency for the space shuttle has been declared,” Mission Control declared after attempts to reestablish contact failed. Soon afterward, mission control began warning the public that debris from such a crash could be hazardous.
NASA also ordered flight controllers to pull out emergency procedures and ordered them to retain all their records, presumably the first step toward securing evidence for a subsequent incident investigation.
Inside Mission Control, flight controllers hovered in front of their computers, staring at the screens. The wives, husbands and children of the astronauts who had been waiting at the landing strip were gathered together by NASA and taken to separate place.

GIRDING FOR THE WORST
Family members of the shuttle crew, which included the first even Israeli astronaut, were gathered in by NASA officials at the Kennedy Space Center.



The Pentagon and Joint Chiefs of Staff are convening a “domestic event conference” for any possible response to the Columbia incident, NBC’s Jim Miklaszewski reported. President Bush is spending the weekend at Camp David, Maryland and was expected to speak later Saturday.
An official of the Department of Homeland Security, speaking on condition of anonymity, told NBC News that there is no indication that terrorism might have been involved.
Security had been tight for the 16-day scientific research mission because of the presence of Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli astronaut.
Ramon, a colonel in Israel’s air force and former fighter pilot, became the first man from his country to fly in space, and his presence resulted in an increase in security, not only for Columbia’s launch, but also for its planned landing. Space agency officials feared his presence might make the shuttle more of a terrorist target.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s office said it had no immediate comment.
Columbia’s crew had completed 80-plus scientific research experiments during their time in orbit.
Just in the last week, NASA observed the anniversary of its only two other space tragedies, the Challenger explosion, which killed all seven astronauts on board, and Apollo space craft fire that killed three on Jan. 27, 1967.


Rick Husband has just one other space flight under his belt and already he’s flying as commander. That’s a rarity. "I think a lot of it has to do with being in the right place at the right time, for starters," says Husband, 45, an Air Force colonel from Amarillo, Texas. The former test pilot was selected as an astronaut in 1994 on his fourth try. Space flight has been his lifelong passion, along with singing. Husband, a baritone, has barbershop quartet experience and has been singing in church choirs for years.
William McCool says one of the most nerve-racking parts of training was learning to draw blood — from others. Columbia’s two pilots are exempted from invasive medical tests in orbit, like blood draws. That means he and his commander have to draw blood from their crewmates. McCool felt bad practicing on volunteers. "I didn’t want to inflict pain," he recalls. The Navy commander and former test pilot became an astronaut in 1996. This is the first space flight for McCool, 41, who grew up in Lubbock, Texas.
Michael Anderson loves flying, both in aircraft and spacecraft, but he dislikes being launched. It’s the risk factor. "There’s always that unknown," he says. Anderson, 43, the son of an Air Force man, grew up on military bases. He was flying for the Air Force when NASA chose him in 1994 as one of only a handful of black astronauts. He traveled to Russia’s Mir space station in 1998. He is now a lieutenant colonel and in charge of Columbia’s dozens of science experiments. His home is Spokane, Wash.
Kalpana Chawla wanted to design aircraft when she emigrated to the United States from India in the 1980s. The space program was the furthest thing from her mind. But "one thing led to another," the 41-year-old engineer said, and she was chosen as an astronaut in 1994. On her only other space flight, in 1996, Chawla made mistakes that sent a satellite tumbling out of control, and two spacewalkers had to go out and capture it. She realizes some may see this flight as her chance to redeem herself.
David Brown is a Navy novelty: He’s both a jet pilot and a doctor. He’s also probably the only NASA astronaut to have worked as a circus acrobat. (It was a summer job during college.) He says what he learned about "the teamwork and the safety and the staying focused" has carried over to his space job. He joined the Navy after his medical internship, and his current rank is captain. NASA chose him as an astronaut in 1996. This is the 46-year-old Virginia native's first space flight.
Laurel Clark, a Navy physician who worked undersea, likens the numerous launch delays to a marathon in which the finish line keeps moving out five miles. "You’ve got to slow back down and maintain a pace," she says. The 41-year-old Clark was a diving medical officer aboard submarines and then a naval flight surgeon. She became an astronaut in 1996. Clark will help with Columbia’s science experiments, which should have flown almost two years ago. Her hometown is Racine, Wis.
Ilan Ramon, a colonel in Israel’s air force, is the first Israeli to be launched into space. "It’s a very symbolic mission," he says. His mother and grandmother survived the Auschwitz death camp, and his father was a Zionist who fought for Israel’s statehood. The astronaut also fought for his country, in the Yom Kippur War in 1973 and the Lebanon War in 1982. Ramon, 48, was selected as an astronaut in 1997 and moved to Houston in 1998 to train for a shuttle flight. He calls Tel Aviv home.

Columbia would be the second shuttle to be lost during a mission. On Jan. 28, 1986, seven crew members, including a New Hampshire schoolteacher, lost their lives in the explosion of the shuttle Challenger just after liftoff.
The disaster, which nearly ended the shuttle program, occurred seventy-three seconds after the shuttle lifted off. The spacecraft disintegrated in the sky and all crew members, including New Hampshire teacher Christa McAuliffe, were killed while millions watched on live television.
A series of investigations ultimately determined that a gas leak in the right booster rocket was blamed for the Challenger blast. In the explosion, the crew module separated intact from the fireball, went into a 2½-minute free fall from 50,000 feet and plunged into the sea.
McAuliffe was selected from among more than 11,000 teachers who applied for the Challenger mission. She was chosen by NASA in 1984 and took a leave of absence that fall to train for the mission.
NASA put the shuttle program on hold after the Challenger accident until 1988. The agency has put the odds of a catastrophic accident during launch — the most dangerous part of any shuttle mission — at 1 in 438.

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(warning: My rambling follows.)

If you think about it, there have been fewer than 20 fatalities in the entire existance of NASA. (3 from Gemini (?) when it exploded on the launch pad, Challenger (7 people?) and now Columbia.) That's pretty amazing when I think about it. We have been so lucky and it's testament to how many precautions NASA does take.

Columbia is a 22 year-old shuttle - it's odd to think that we're flying something a year younger than I am.

I don't know what this means for the future of NASA and space exploration. If I had my way, I'd do something a la JFK and say that I want people living on the moon or Mars for 6 months before 2015. I'd take this tragedy and say 'you know what? I want something new. Let's start from scratch and see how safe we can make these things." They've been developing the 'next generation' for years now - let's put the money into those projects and actually DO it.

Or it may mean more budget cuts for NASA as people say "Well, why are we paying money for this when people are still dying?"

One thing I did notice, it took this tragedy for people to turn on the NASA cable channel. I wish I had been alive in the days when every launch and every re-entry was something special. It's gotten too commonplace and this illustrates it.

I do not think the age of the aircraft is necessarily an issue. Remember that many of the jets we all fly on are that old or older. Also, remember that these things are not always made by the lowest bidder - we all know about stories like the $20,000 toilet seats and $500 hammers - this is where they often go. The Challenger was brought down by a simple rubber O-ring - not something that would even be big cost concern.

The reasons for keeping NASA are not just for space exploration. Rather, NASA is responsible for many technological advances that have other uses, and probably should be looked more as a techonlogy think-tank than just a space exploration agency. I do not see this agency being cut at all due to this tragic accident.

CD...from what I understand, the shuttle Columbia was supposed to be good for 100 flights. I don't think it had nearly reached this limit as of yet. The shuttles, we are told, receive the finest care and frequently have parts replaced (after every mission, really)...but this does make one wonder about the quality of the refurbishing and preparation that goes on prior to missions.

Your comments about 'faster, better, cheaper' are disturbing. I wonder how much NASA, and the shuttle program, have been underfunded...or if that term is even relevant here. You would think that the flagship NASA project would, at the very least, be funded to the point where good personnel can be kept on-hand for more than a few years. If this tragedy was due to human error resulting from lack of experience or other deficiencies, that's going to be a huge problem going forward.

I agree with you about your comments on new 'cutting-edge' projects. It is likely that the entire space program will be held in abeyance for some time to come because of this terrible incident.

Basically, the warnings are to just stay away from any debris and report it to authorities. Can't do much if it falls on your head. There is apparently quite a bit of debris in Nacodogches, TX and some uncomfirmed reports of debris in nw Louisiana. We are getting quite a few calls reporting possible debris but so far no confirmation from where I am at. We will probably be getting calls for weeks. If it is anything like the anthrax scare will we get calls for months. Every old transmission on the side of the road will be reported as shuttle debris.

I was shocked and saddened this morning as I woke up to news of this horrific event. My heart goes out to everyone who is touched by this tragedy.

I believe it will cause a slow down in NASA projects, at least for awhile, while assessments are done, not only of this tragedy, but also of the space program as a whole. Hopefully this will lead to improvements in procedures and practices, if this is what led to the events of today.

I do have one question, though. The Space Station is still up there. Surely they have to maintain that?

I suppose it's a bit early to be thinking of the ramifications this morning. This is very sad.

They were coming home...courageous, dedicated pioneers. They helped to further scientific knowledge, and will not be forgotten. Space exploration will continue...for the memory and spirit of those who lost their lives...it must.

I just watched the French reports and they happened to mention Ramon's flight record. It is pretty sad that even though this is undoubtedly an accident, before he went on the mission, authorities were nervous about the potential for terrorist assaults.
In light of world events, and even not being someone into conspiracy, it is kind of scary to see his flight record.
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20021216-11812890.htm

I don't even mean it's possible, but the way things are going, it sure looks suspicious! Even skimming through a couple of pages, I just took one at random.

Oh well, they also interviewed the French minister for scientific research Claudie Haigneré, one of the scientists who went up in one of the missions, she was truly saddened as she knows people in the teams.

"If we die, we want people to accept it. We're in a risky business, and we hope that if anything happens to us it will not delay the program. The conquest of space is worth the risk of life."

Gus Grissom, 1926-1967

The first positive thing to happen to Israel in over two years, and it ends in disaster for two nations.

The 3PM (EST) NASA press conference just addressed the issue o the space station. They were planning on sending up a 'test flight' with supplies to the space station. I don't know if that means a shuttle launch or what, but the man said that it was going to carry supplies 'appropriate' for the length they may have to do without a shuttle mission.

If it was built for 100 missions, I think the number I've been hearing is that NASA has only done 113 shuttle missions TOTAL among all of the shuttles.

By the way, I'm trying to think of the shuttles and in what order they were made... I know Enterprise was the protoype which wasn't suited for space, and I think Discovery and Endeavor are the newest (Endeavor being the very newest?) and Challenger and Columbia... Are there any I'm missing?

Edit: Jazz reminded me about Atlantis - am I missing any others?

I think it's such a shock, because we've seen so many successful shuttle fights come up and return safely that it's easy to forget how many risks are involved--how great the potential is for something going wrong. My prayers are with all the families. I hope our space program will receive the funding it deserves to continue.

Quote:

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If it was built for 100 missions, I think the number I've been hearing is that NASA has only done 113 shuttle missions TOTAL among all of the shuttles.

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This was Columbia's 28th mission.

The electronic highway signs in Texas that indicate auto accidents, missing children, or icing on the road now read:

TO REPORT
SHUTTLE DEBRIS

CALL POLICE
OR 817......

sad.

Addressing the space station...I heard in the news conference that the Russians aboard have enough supplies to last until June. They also have an escape craft.

NASA is confident they have time to address the current crisis and plan for the space station crew.

I am touched by the "closeness" among the entire team involved with the space program. They know they all depend on each other...even single member. They are devastated, but determined to learn and continue.

That was my thought too, Lefois, about the closeness of the people. My first look at the news was a NASA Administrator, Sean O'Keefe talking about the disaster and it was so plainly evident that he was devastated by this tragedy.