For those that dont know we have lost the space shuttle Columbia. They are saying that they expect parts too be falling around the Dallas TX.

It broke apart @ about 200,000 feet. when coming in for its landing.

NASA has ordered flight controllers to pull out emergency procedures and ordered them to retain all their records.

Columbia was aiming for a touch down at 9:16 a.m.

A loud explosion was heard over Dallas at around the same time, NBC News’ Jim Cummins reported.

It was at an altitude of 200,700 feet, traveling at 12,500 mph when mission control lost contact. There was no further communication and no further tracking data.

Reporters at the landing strip were ordered away 7 minutes after the scheduled touchdown with still no sign of the shuttle.

SPACE CENTER, Houston, Feb. 1 — The space shuttle Columbia exploded over central Texas on Saturday soon after reentering the atmosphere en route to a landing at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NBC Dallas affiliate KXAS reported. Video images obtained by KXAS showed the doomed shuttle descending at a severe trajectory and breaking apart as it plummeted to Earth. Officials in Texas dispatched search and rescue teams to the town of Palestine, southwest of Waco, the presumed point of impact.

I had hoped I wouldn't live long enough to see/hear of this sort of thing again.

When I started reading the story, I kept looking for the date of the Challenger explosion. I thought it was "a piece of history". I too thought we would not live to see a second occurance.

According to what I read, some insulation fell off on take off and hit the wing. It was deemed not serious damage and the mission continued as planned. Not sure if that was it or not.

Man, this is sad

Prayers and condolences form Canada.

Zedguy

BambiKiller240,

"I had hoped I wouldn't live long enough to see/hear of this sort of thing again. "

I hoped I wouldn't see it happen again, also. The last one went on my birthday (1/28/86). This one is just a few days after my birthday. There's got to be some sort of strange irony here...

tragic news indeed.

we are all saddened by this as these events know no borders and no politics. these astronauts, like all those before them, showed the world the wonder of the human spirit, the strength of cooperation, the foritude of determination and faces of courage. i hope this may be the last time i ever hear news like this, however, as long as mankind continues to be inquisitive he will push back the boundaries of his own existance and he will do so at his own peril.

without failure, success wouldn't be so sweet. for those that can, we must. for those who can't, we should never let these deeds and this courage be forgotten.