quote:
Columbia was at an altitude of 200,700 feet over north-central Texas at a 9 a.m., traveling at 12,500 mph when mission control lost contact and tracking data.Reporters at the landing strip were ordered away 7 minutes after the scheduled touchdown with still no sign of the shuttle.
In 42 years of human space flight, NASA has never lost a space crew during landing or the ride back to orbit. In 1986, space shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after liftoff.
Security had been tight for the 16-day scientific research mission that included the first Israeli astronaut.
This is a very sad day.
.... I think.. it hits her and my dad really hard because they have such hopes and dreams for the space program - have grown up reading Heinlien, and McCaffrey - where the world of space means so much.
.... I think that's why it hits hard, too.
I'm supposed to stay indoors and watch for falling debris :\
