# We've Just Lost a Shuttle! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 1, 2003, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097 "2003-02-01T14:41:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bad\_Hat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f0a364/32.png) [@Bad\_Hat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_Hat)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/21 "2003-02-01T15:12:08Z")
let the conspiracy theories begin. tis a sad day. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/22 "2003-02-01T15:13:26Z")
☹ ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/23 "2003-02-01T15:14:05Z")
I was watching cartoons when they broke in (it was a network channel). _sigh_ Prayers from me for everyone - those on board, those at mission control and most of all, the families. I too, remember the Challenger explosion. I was in 6th grade though, and it was a school inservice day, so I was at home. My grandmother called to tell us then to turn on the television. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/24 "2003-02-01T15:16:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* > \*\*Having been on the Space Shuttle Support Team when I was at Edwards, I should say that I tend to take this sort of thing a little personally. \*\* My dad was a Safety Engineer for the shuttle for a while, after the Challenger explosion. I wonder how he will feel when he sees this? He’s on the road driving to Tennessee right now so he probably won’t find out til tonight. ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/25 "2003-02-01T15:16:03Z")
So sad to share my birthday with this tragic, historic event. ☹ God bless. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/26 "2003-02-01T15:16:51Z")
I just closed another thread on this topic - and was hoping to find good news in this one. Shit. ☹ FWIW, terrorism seems unlikely, right? It would have disintegrated at considerable height, and I doubt anyone could plant a bomb on a space shuttle. Then again, whatever the cause, it’s a tragedy. When I was a kid, I had a huge poster of the Columbia on my bedroom wall. I was 7 when it first launched - it was the coolest thing _ever_. Hell, anyone my age probably feels the same. Rest in peace. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/27 "2003-02-01T15:17:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by PunditLisa \* > \*\*Rest in Peace, Columbia crew. > > CNN is reporting that an Israeli astronaut was on flight. Dear God, let it be mechanical failure and not terrorism. \*\* At 200,000+ feet, it is hard to see how it could be terrorism or an attack unless somebody did something to the shuttle before it launched. ---
**Author:** ![Skeezix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@Skeezix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skeezix)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/28 "2003-02-01T15:18:56Z")
First I’ve heard of this: Apparently, a piece of _something_ broke off during launch, and impacted the left wing of the shuttle itself. What bearing this has on anything, I’ve not yet learned, but it **does** speak to the possibility of mechanical failure of some kind. Deep breath, everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/29 "2003-02-01T15:19:25Z")
ACCCCKKK!!! My mothers best friends son is a shuttle pilot. This wasn’t his mission, but his mother is still sure to be a wreck. ---
**Author:** ![Skelji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Skelji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skelji)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/30 "2003-02-01T15:19:28Z")
There is now a report that, on Jan 16th when it took off, a piece of insulation from the fuel tank broke off and hit the wing. The insulation is a soft material, but it’s possible that damage to the wing may have contributed to this problem on re-entry. It’s still speculation, of course. NASA officials have stated that it is _extremely_ unlikely that this is terrorism. It’s pretty sad, and also irresponsible, that the media is even suggesting terrorism. Accidents do still happen. ---
**Author:** ![dahempfaerie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@dahempfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dahempfaerie)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/31 "2003-02-01T15:22:39Z")
i was in eight grade english class when the shuttle exploded…it was one of the saddest and most shocking moments of my life…i never thought i would feel like that or witness anything like that again…as i watch cnn, it is so obvious that there are no survivors…my thoughts are with all the families…as **PunditLisa** said, i, too, agree: please, please let this not be terrorism ---
**Author:** ![PRNYouth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PRNYouth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PRNYouth)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/32 "2003-02-01T15:23:46Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by mishaa \* > \*\* was in 10th grade in the spring of 1987. We watched the liftoff in Algebra class …_\* The Challenger exploded on **January 28th, 1986**. [Cite.](http://www.click2disasters.com/challenger/challenger_explosion_ch1.htm) I remember the same feelings. We were at home – school had been cancelled because of snow. It’s a good time to remember the words of President Reagan on the day of the Challenger disaster. He sad, “We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and ‘slipped the surly bonds of earth’ to ‘touch the face of God.’” (The lines President Reagan quoted come from a poem called “High Flight”, written by John Magee, a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II.) ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/33 "2003-02-01T15:23:49Z")
My son came in from walking the dog and said the Challenger blew up. I said, honey, that was seventeen years ago. He said our next door neighbor said no, it just happened. I make my daughter switch from Nickelodeon to the news. Goddammit, not again. Wasn’t an Arabian or Palestinian scientist also on board? What a way to wake up on a lovely Saturday morning… ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/34 "2003-02-01T15:23:56Z")
Latest speculation is that foam insulation fell off the shuttle’s wing when it was launched. Things do break off sometimes and normally the shuttle can cope, but the heat just seems to have hit it too hard on reentry. CNN is on the phone with a woman from Palestine, TX. Her family was woken up by a rumble and a neighbor saw debris in a field and now they’re seeing a lot of it around Central TX. At least we’ll be able to retrieve those poor folks. They were at Mach 6, no way to eject. Almost certainly has nothing to do with the war, the Israeli, etc. Just a sad coincidence, like the teacher being on board for the last disaster. But America and Israel surely don’t need this tragedy right now. Damn. :eek: ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Skeezix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@Skeezix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skeezix)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/35 "2003-02-01T15:24:25Z")
A question for anyone who’s managed to get info from CNN/NASA websites (or has just ben paying better attention than me to the boob tube)… Apparently, someone on FOX news mentioned, along with the now repeated warning to stay away from possible shuttle debris (damn, that’s morbid sounding) because the propellants used are toxic… in addition to this, FOX news used the word radioactive, on air. I’ve not heard this with m’own ears, but secondhand from my mother, who was watching when the news broke. Anyone heard positive or negative on this little tidbit? (She also puts forth the idea that it’s a scare tactic to keep “souvenir hunters” from grabbing a bit of it. Yeah, I know.) ---
**Author:** ![Badge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Badge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badge)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/36 "2003-02-01T15:25:42Z")
How sad, that the only time this whole planet seems united is when we mourn. I’ve sent my officers out to lower all the flags in town. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/37 "2003-02-01T15:26:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by UnuMondo \* > \*\*It’s a shame that we’ve gotten so used to political profiteering that right now the only thing I can think is “I wonder if Bush is going to blame it on Iraq.” > > UnuMondo \*\* And it’s a real shame some people obviously aren’t capable of showing some fucking decorum just minutes after a tragedy of this scale. Get a grip. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/38 "2003-02-01T15:26:43Z")
Oh yeah, I was in college when the Challenger exploded. We were surprised but not shocked–I mean, space travel is just dangerous and the odds caught up with them. It wasn’t until later that we learned the pressure to launch because of the publicity for Mrs. McAuliffe overwhelmed the caution about the cold temperature. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/39 "2003-02-01T15:26:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Skeezix \* > \*\*A question for anyone who’s managed to get info from CNN/NASA websites (or has just ben paying better attention than me to the boob tube)… > > Apparently, someone on FOX news mentioned, along with the now repeated warning to stay away from possible shuttle debris (damn, that’s morbid sounding) because the propellants used are toxic… in addition to this, FOX news used the word radioactive, on air. I’ve not heard this with m’own ears, but secondhand from my mother, who was watching when the news broke. > > Anyone heard positive or negative on this little tidbit? > > (She also puts forth the idea that it’s a scare tactic to keep “souvenir hunters” from grabbing a bit of it. Yeah, I know.) \*\* Skeezix, I heard that too. I tend to lean toward your mom’s theory. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/40 "2003-02-01T15:27:09Z")
Some of the propellants are toxic and there might be radioactive materials on-board. Some of the materials the shuttle’s made out of might be toxic if they burn as well. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097.md?page=3)