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The Space Shuttle Columbia
This archived discussion is "read only". « Previous 1 2 3 Next » » AL_W - Re: Re: Interesting Video In response to message posted by Q_out:Q.... That is a good clip, but it is not the San Jose Video I was talking about. The pass over the Bay Area was well before dawn. The video clearly shows several small objects separating from the shuttle and taking different trajectories. It matches very closely the Owens Valley Scientist who who has been interviewed by all the networks. To me, it clearly showed that the shuttle was shedding parts as it flew over California. The pass was to the north of the Bay Area ( It went directly over Sacramento ) so the peak elevation in SJ would have been near 55 degrees, giving an excellent viewing angle. I'm really surprised the networks have not latched onto this video. The station that showed it here was the NBC affiliate, which said the tape was being forwarded to NASA. Although I got up, I was not able to see the shuttle due to low clouds and fog. The video was taken at the Lick Astronomical Observatory, about 18 miles east from downtown San Jose, atop the 5400' Mt Hamilton. -- posted by AL_W » Jen_ - Space Shuttle Columbia SOLSE Mission #2 .description of Space Shuttle Columbia SOLSE Mission #2....from the NASA website... <img src="http://code916.gsfc.nasa.gov/Public/Spac..." width=241 height=327 align="left"> Space Shuttle Columbia SOLSE Mission #2 The Shuttle Ozone Limb Sounding Experiment (SOLSE) payload is a Hitchhiker Junior (HH-J) payload managed by the GSFC Code 870 Shuttle Small Payloads Project and GSFC Code 916 Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Branch. The SOLSE experiment consists of the instrumentation, structural support, Command and Data Handling (C&DH), thermal control and power subsystems. The instrumentation subsystem consists of a visible and UV spectrograph with a CCD array detector, photodiode array and visible light cameras, calibration lamp, optics and baffling. The experiment is housed in a HH canister with canister extension ring and equipped with an HMDA. The payload also consists of a Hitchhiker-Junior (HH-J) interface, comprised of the HH Remote Interface Unit (HRIU) and associated Lower End Plate (LEP) electronics. The HRIU receives power from the HH avionics and communicates via the GAS intercom line with a Payload and General Support Computer (PGSC). The principal mission of SOLSE-02 is to demonstrate a new technique to measure the vertical distribution of ozone in the atmosphere. Utilizing a limb viewing geometry, SOLSE shall demonstrate the feasibility of measuring limb scattered radiation to retrieve ozone with improved vertical resolution than a traditional nadir looking instrument can achieve. Second, SOLSE shall demonstrate the feasibility of using charge coupled device (CCD) technology to eliminate moving parts in simpler, cheaper, ozone mapping instruments. The SOLSE payload performs Limb and Earth viewing observations. During Limb observations, SOLSE focuses on the region between the altitudes of 5 km to 45 km above the horizon of the earth's surface through the daylit orbit (Sunrise through Sunset). SOLSE records images of the atmospheric limb from 530 nanometers to 850 nanometers when the visible filter is in place and from 270 to 425 nanometers when the UV filter is in place. The Limb Ozone Retrieval Experiment (LORE) contributes five discrete bands out to 760 nanometers. Numeric data from the payload displayed on the PGSC indicates if the proper altitude w ithin the limb is being imaged. Earth viewing observations enable SOLSE to correlate the data with other nadir viewing, ozone monitoring instruments. Calibration measurements of the spectrograph are performed prior to and following all SOLSE observations with the HMDA in the closed position. MISSION DESCRIPTION Launch from Pad 39A aboard shuttle Columbia (27th flight) 16 day mission 39 degree inclination (min. requirement for MEIDEX) 150 nautical miles altitude FREESTAR is in Bay 10 7.5 hours total minimum solar viewing (comprised of ten 45 minute observations -- will not be scheduled on consecutive orbits) I think this is just part of the series of scientific experiments carried out by the Space Shuttle Columbia crew during their 16 day mission ....Jen -- posted by Jen_ » lcha - Realistic risk The physicists Richard Feyenman, the only scientists on the congressional panel looking into the last shuttle disaster, reported the giant disparity between the risk of catastrophic shuttle failure by NASA management compared to that of NASA engineers.NASA management was putting the odds of failure at 1 in 10,000 or so. He pointed out that is a successful shuttle mission every single day for 27 years. NASA engineers were saying it was closer to 1 in 100. A shuttle disaster is tragic. Losing 7 people is tragic. Losing the 7 passangers on the commuter flight in N.Carolina 2 days before was also tragic. Life is risky. Everyone of us needs to be truthfully aware of the risk we take in all our endevours and assume the risk in the endevours we support. And treat every living day with the wonder that it deserves. -- posted by lcha » Lawhawk - Camera views. During a previous shuttle mission, there was a camera that was attached to the external tank and would view the shuttle as it ascended.http://journals.iranscience.net:800/www.... <img src="http://journals.iranscience.net:800/www...."> What is interesting is that this was not a standard camera setup, but it might have proven useful in determining whether the shuttle was doomed on launch based on the footage from the ground that suggests a portion of external tank insulation struck the shuttle about 80 seconds into the flight. It might have given engineers the ability to figure out what could be done to preserve the crew. Also, here's a link to NASA's comments on the camera system - used for the first time on the October 7, 2002 launch: -- posted by Lawhawk » Kirk - Re: Camera views. .In response to message posted by Lawhawk: I believe they have in the past used the remote robot arm to look at the underside of the shuttles with a camera. I was told the arm was not on this last mission so it was not done. Perhaps future missions would schedule a spacewalk to visually inspect the shuttle? If damaged, they can send up another shuttle with a minimal crew to rescue the crew in orbit. They could also bring up extra fuel to move and park the damaged shuttle in a higher orbit or even attach it to the space station where it could serve some useful purpose. It seems rather odd that a visual inspection of the space craft was not part of normal reentry procedure. If done as soon as in orbit, then there would be ample time to prepare a rescue mission if needed. -- posted by Kirk » Kirk - Picture of Cracked Wing? .This is very odd.... http://www.maarivenglish.com/ <img src=http://www.maarivenglish.com/Columbia%20... width=267 height=200> The left wing of the Columbia shuttle from a picture taken out of the shuttle's window. The picture was taken from the news program "Erev Hadash" from Israeli television. 02-03-03 On the fifth day of his journey into space, Ilan Ramon spoke with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon through a video link. He presented the prime minister his view out of the windows of the Columbia shuttle and right there on the surface of the wing on the left side you could see a long crack and a dent. Eleven days after, it was that very same wing that broke off the shuttle and finally brought it to its destruction. Even if NASA knew about the damage from the moment it happened, they could have done nothing except pray. According to Aharon Lapidot, a well respected aviation expert in Israel, the left wing theory is the most plausible explanation for the shuttle disaster. -- posted by Kirk » slysgirl - God's Vengenance? This was picked up on another thread, thought maybe it should be posted here..............Iraqis Call Shuttle Disaster God's Vengeance
"We are happy that it broke up," government employee Abdul Jabbar al-Quraishi said. "God wants to show that his might is greater than the Americans. They have encroached on our country. God is avenging us," he said. Car mechanic Mohammed Jaber al-Tamini noted Israeli air force Colonel Ilan Ramon was among the dead when the shuttle broke up shortly before its return to earth. "Israel launched an aggression on us when it raided our nuclear reactor without any reason (in 1981), now time has come and God has retaliated to their aggression," Tamini said. -- posted by slysgirl » Kirk - Local Report .Hi Kirk, I've just spent 2 days up in Shreveport La. One of my small used car owners I've known for over 10 years has the biggest used car lot in Hemphill Tx area. He brought pictures of debris that landed in his neighbor's yard. The pieces have been blown apart showing extreme pressures. I have no idea what blew, but whatever it was, it blew big and was well up there in altitude.The entire community shook and the blast has felt from 100 miles away. My partners wife was with her horses over 200 miles away and she heard it and the horses got spooked. The poor astronauts I hope, were already dead.The carnage as they dropped literally from the sky is cruel to repeat. As best he can tell (from informal notes from the volounteer fire department) - which was utilized by NASA and the FBI - is they know for sure they have found 5 of 7. The Indian lady and the Israeli and Mc Clurey were for sure identified. The nose cone dug so deep in the ground that water covered it.The land owner was looking for debris on his 4 wheeler and came across a puddle - a puddle that was never ther before. He got off his 4 wheeler and reached down in the water and felt metal.He informed authorities and they dug it out of the ground.Found the control pedals and some wires as well as the metal cone (it weighed over 700 pounds). When he came into his uncle's appliance store(which MSNBC was renting as an office) he told the lady from MSNBC that the nose cone was just recovered.She immediately called Tom Brokaw who announced a "just breaking story "and this guy watched it unfold before his very eyes. This women was elated with having picked up the scoop. Our news media is a straight up deal.The gory part of the way these explorers died is not hitting the air waves and that is probably the most respectful approach. Their demise was brutal beyond imagination. Falling from the sky onto a highway at that speed is beyond imagination - it is unrecognizable.The kind of things that only DNA verifies. The good news is there is a small army of all kinds of enforcement agencies centered in Nacogdoches and Hemphill.They are recovering any and every thing and taking it to Barksdale Air Force Base and coordinating reconstruction in a hanger. Several fisherman on Toledo Bend Lake all got but sunk as a huge chunk of the shuttle landed within 50 yards of their bass boat.They thought the world was ending.The Coast guard is using Sonar to find multiple chunks that were observed going into the Lake.Everybody is freaked out and massive water control tests are ongoing in Louisianna lakes. Just a local report from East Texas - remember where you heard it. Bob -- posted by Kirk « Previous 1 2 3 Next » Please follow the guidelines set forth in the Suite101 Posting Etiquette when adding to the discussion. |
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