[meteorite-list] NASA Statement On Loss Of Communication With Columbia

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:18:24 2004
Message-ID: <200302011650.IAA18834_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://www.nasa.gov

NASA STATEMENT ON LOSS OF COMMUNICATIONS WITH COLUMBIA
February 1, 2003

A Space Shuttle contingency has been declared in Mission
Control, Houston, as a result of the loss of communication
with the Space Shuttle Columbia at approximately 9 a.m. EST
Saturday as it descended toward a landing at the Kennedy Space
Center, Fla. It was scheduled to touchdown at 9:16 a.m. EST.

Communication and tracking of the shuttle was lost at 9 a.m.
EST at an altitude of about 203,000 feet in the area above
north central Texas. At the time communications were lost. The
shuttle was traveling approximately 12,500 miles per hour
(Mach 18). No communication and tracking information were
received in Mission Control after that time.

Search and rescue teams in the Dallas-Fort Worth and in portions
of East Texas have been alerted. Any debris that is located in
the area that may be related to the Space Shuttle contingency
should be avoided and may be hazardous as a result of toxic
propellants used aboard the shuttle. The location of any possible
debris should immediately be reported to local authorities.

Flight controllers in Mission Control have secured all information,
notes and data pertinent to today's entry and landing by Space
Shuttle Columbia and continue to methodically proceed through
contingency plans.

News media covering the Space Shuttle should stay tuned to NASA
Television, which is broadcast on AMC-2, transponder 9C, C-Band,
located at 85 degrees West longitude. The frequency is 3880.0 MHz.
Polarization is vertical and audio is monaural at 6.8 MHz. Reporters
can also go to any NASA center newsroom to monitor the situation.

New information, including the times and locations of press briefings,
will be posted to this page.
Received on Sat 01 Feb 2003 11:50:47 AM PST