# Columbia's 80 Science Experiments **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 3, 2003, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbias-80-science-experiments/152494 "2003-02-03T14:28:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbias-80-science-experiments/152494/1 "2003-02-03T14:28:04Z")
Was all data lost on the science experiments? Do the astronauts transmit the highlights of their notes to Houston, et al? In short, I WAG there is some back-up practice for just such an emergency, isn’t there? Just as the media was about to hit on this, the stupid network would break to run an ad or care to remind me what I was listening to every 15 minutes! Ug! For this, I give the media a huge :wally and :smack: - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbias-80-science-experiments/152494/2 "2003-02-03T14:48:49Z")
The experiments are very closely monitored from the ground, so the data should be safe. There are some experiments which involve doing something to a specimen in orbit and inspecting the specimen later on the ground (e.g. crystal growth, various biology experiments). Those were lost. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbias-80-science-experiments/152494/3 "2003-02-03T14:56:28Z")
I heard the NASA press conference in the afternoon after the crash…they said that some of the experiments they have partial or near complete data on, since information was being sent back contantly, and other experiments were designed to only be analysed back here on Earth, so all of that data is lost. At the time there weren’t any details about how much was collected and how much was lost. I don’t know if that information has been released yet. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbias-80-science-experiments/152494/4 "2003-02-03T15:15:03Z")
Three different school experiments aren’t coming back. ☹ [http://www.cnn.com/2003/EDUCATION/02/03/sprj.colu.shuttle.students.ap/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2003/EDUCATION/02/03/sprj.colu.shuttle.students.ap/index.html) > [@](#): > > The students said Sunday they want to continue pursuing careers in science despite the tragedy. > > “I told my sister, I want to go to space,” said Atiabet Ijan Amabel, 16. “No matter what happens, I know people (can) die but you just tell me to go tomorrow, I’m going.” You go, girl. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbias-80-science-experiments/152494/5 "2003-02-04T01:49:08Z")
abc news reported tonight that mice (rats?) were found with shuttle parts on the ground. speculation was that the rodents were part of a science experement on board. for sure there were moths and mealworms, i remember one of the women describing how one of the moth had broken out and was flexing its wings. ---
**Author:** ![Zagadka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zagadka/32/7272_2.png) [@Zagadka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zagadka)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbias-80-science-experiments/152494/6 "2003-02-04T01:56:36Z")
> [@](#): > > “I told my sister, I want to go to space,” said Atiabet Ijan Amabel, 16. “No matter what happens, I know people (can) die but you just tell me to go tomorrow, I’m going.” Now **that’s** what I like to hear. And hopefully, that is why the space program will always continue. ---
**Author:** ![caveman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caveman/32/7242_2.png) [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbias-80-science-experiments/152494/7 "2003-02-04T03:13:36Z")
After the initial shock wore off, this was the first question I had…I guess that makes me either insensitve or a HUGE nerd. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rocking chair \* > \*\*abc news reported tonight that mice (rats?) were found with shuttle parts on the ground. speculation was that the rodents were part of a science experement on board. for sure there were moths and mealworms, i remember one of the women describing how one of the moth had broken out and was flexing its wings. \*\* You mean there’s a MOTH from OUTER SPACE flapping around the Great State of Texas? Sounds like a good starting point for either an outrageous urban legend in a few years, or a 50’s B-movie. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbias-80-science-experiments/152494/8 "2003-02-04T03:48:49Z")
One of the experiments was being supervised by a scholar here, and he apparently got his data (and I believe was in close communication with the astronauts while they conducted it).