February 1st, 2003 was just another Saturday morning. I knew Columbia was due to land in Florida, but landings were so routine I wasn't even worried about tuning in for it (and let's be honest, they aren't as exciting to watch as a launch!)
I was listening to NPR as usual. It was during one of the local news breaks that I first hear that Columbia broke up on reentry. Very odd, NPR was still running its usual programming and hadn't broken in with special coverage so I turned on CNN. They were in full coverage mode.
It was pretty obvious right away there was a heat shield failure and quickly became apparent that it was damaged on takeoff. The heat shield is fragile (I have a shuttle tile, although the area that damaged had a different but still fragile material) but since weight is a concern, you have to use light weight materials.
That evening, I went out and drove by Horlick High. All the major networks had news truck in the sh0pping center parking lot across the street since Laurel Clark went to Horlick.
I remember running through the Laurel Clark fountain on hot summer runs. I also bought the Columbia Christmas ornament at Zoo Lights.
The Columbia accident is ultimately what led Bush to (correctly) decide it was time to retire the shuttle fleet. Shuttles didn't fly again until procedures were in place to reduce the risk of a similar accident in the future including new techniques to mitigate debris strikes on the orbiter and inspections in orbit to look for damage and developed techniques to repair the heat shield while in orbit (I believe it was only once that they saw enough damage they decided to go out and make a repair).
The Columbia accident didn't seem to traumatize the nation quite like Challenger. Maybe because it wasn't the first one. Maybe because it was after 9/11 and seemed smaller by comparison. Maybe because we were building up troops in Iraq in preparation for a war that would start weeks later.
What do you remember about February 1st, 2003?
Reprinted with permission from the Half-Astrophysicst Blog.
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Hale, I have to tell you. I don't fly, but I would get on a Space Shuttle (too late now) In a New York Minute. It Is indeed sad that we lost 7 people In that ACCIDENT. It's kind of like "The price of doing business" They all knew the risks, and had the opportunity of a lifetime (no pun intended) It failed, but succeeded as you noted, many times. All I can say, Is Many, Many LUCKY men and women have had this unbelievable opportunity. I would also say In my opinion the 7 that died that day would NOT want to be called "HERO'S" They were trained scientist's like yourself, and GREAT American adventurers.
I was leaving the Alano Club that day when another member came in and said that they hadn't heard from Columbia after re-entry. We turned on the TV, but, of course, there was nothing to watch.
One of many sad days.
We were in Vegas. I remember it was very early in the morning when Gary woke me and told me it was missing. Once they starting showing footage of the streaks in the sky it was obvious something terrible had happened. Even in Vegas you could tell there was a sadness in the air.
I just hope the "final frontier" dream hasn't gone away.
I remember watching it live. I remember comprehending the tragedy before they even said anything. I remember the sadness.
Watched it on tv last night...9 years dang sure don't seem like it.
how many states dit it leave debri in? 4???
I saw It live also. I turned the TV on just for that reason. I wanted to see It land. I really wanted to think everybody was talking out of their butt. It just didn't make sense. I am not certain, but It was a Saturday I think. Just as 9.11, The Challenger, and John Kennedy Jr.s accidents did, they all completely ruined my day. Not to mention the assassination of JFK, which to ME will go down In History as the turning even of U.S. History forever.
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