Discussion Remembering Columbia: 10 years later

[Eccentrus]

I was 9 years old and was visiting relatives in Taiwan on that day (it was exactly the first day of the Lunar New Year).

and that was how I ended up in my uncle's villa, my memories must have been getting shabby lately to forget such an important detail.

 

[DaveS]

Not fair.

Think of the movie Apollo 13. The scene where Gene Krantz was asked if he wanted the crew informed about the possibility of the heat shield being damaged

I know the scene you're talking about. It was not the heat shield. The FDO noted to FLIGHT (Gene Kranz) that the entry trajectory was a bit shallow and wondered if he wanted to tell the crew about it. Kranz then asked if there was anything they (the Flight Control Team in MCC) could do about it. The FDO replied "not now, FLIGHT". Kranz replied "Then they don't need to know, do they?".

 

[Cras]

John Glenn's flight too.


They told him to keep on the retro kit but didnt tell him why.

On one hand, if there is nothing that can be done I can understand. Sort of.

Then on the other hand......I think the people who are flying the space craft should know what is going on with their ship.

 

[Zatnikitelman]

I still remember that Saturday morning. My mom had woken me up at about 9:00am. Then she came back in at 9:30 and just said they've lost the shuttle. I jumped out of bed and headed straight for the TV.
R.I.P Crew of STS-107 Columbia

 

[llarian]

Ah ah. Take it a little bit later. At the point where they are just about to re-enter ...

I know the scene you're talking about. It was not the heat shield. The FDO noted to FLIGHT (Gene Kranz) that the entry trajectory was a bit shallow and wondered if he wanted to tell the crew about it. Kranz then asked if there was anything they (the Flight Control Team in MCC) could do about it. The FDO replied "not now, FLIGHT". Kranz replied "Then they don't need to know, do they?".

 

[Tycho]

I still remember the very moment and how startlingly surreal it was when Mission Control at Johnson Space Center went into contingency mode and how eerily calm MCC was at the time. I still remember how many times the major networks replayed the footage of the shuttle disintegrating over Texas (and the guy that stole a helmet or something--pretty low).

It's a testament to what these guys (and girls) do and the risk they take to take humanity to places we've dreamed of since we were capable of sentient thought.

One thing's for certain, though, and that is that they've got the right stuff.

RIP to the STS-107 crew and their families, who are undoubtedly experiencing mixed emotions as they remember their loved ones' sacrifice and celebrate their lives.

 

[BruceJohnJennerLawso]

I still remember that Saturday morning. My mom had woken me up at about 9:00am. Then she came back in at 9:30 and just said they've lost the shuttle. I jumped out of bed and headed straight for the TV.
R.I.P Crew of STS-107 Columbia

Was going to hockey that morning when my dad told me. Very sad moment

 

[Ghostrider]

You can always argue about the benefits of knowing when the ultimate is going to happen to you ... versus the benefits of not knowing ... IMHO, why increase the stress of those last few moments?

Because it was their lives and they had a right to know. If you're about to do something which may result in your death and you have no choice about it, why shouldn't you be informed? I know I would, stress or not. It's my freakin' life. Maybe there's something I'd like to tell my loved ones. Maybe there's a favourite song of mine I'd like to listen to in case I get no more chances. Above all, we have the right to be treated as adults and not as irresponsible kids - especially when crewing a spacecraft. That kind of condescending attitude should be stomped out with a hobnailed boot.

 

[FADEC]

I was at home. The old orbiter forum was the first source which informed me about STS-107 not returning home on schedule.

My favourite docu of STS-107:

 

[NukeET]

A good read and good tribute. I've posted this on Facebook and Google+, but I think the readers here will appreciate it more.



http://pjmedia.com/blog/ten-years-after-columbia/2/

 

[mojoey]

Ah ah. Take it a little bit later. At the point where they are just about to re-enter ...

I think they were fairly aware that the heat shield may have been damaged, when they looked at the SM after they jettisoned it.

The damage stretches from the High Gain all the way to the heat shield