# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/141 "2003-02-01T16:56:27Z")
SC Wolf-- a couple of minutes ago my husband showed me that someone WAS hawking Challenger debris on ebay. Sometimes I’m glad to live on the west coast so that I don’t have the shock of catching these tragedies live without warning, but it makes a strange thing to wake up to. A bad day. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/142 "2003-02-01T16:58:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jeep’s Phoenix \* > \*\*This was briefly mentioned this on CBS…they have enough supplies to go for a brief period beyond their scheduled return flight. Beyond that, there is a return capsule that can hold all three astronauts and get them back home. \*\* Can you imagine having to take a capsule back to earth? It would be the ultimate shorts filling luge run. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/143 "2003-02-01T17:01:39Z")
airdisc: Col Ramon’s mother survived Auschwitz. [http://www.yad-vashem.org.il/about\_yad/press\_room/temp\_index\_press\_room\_ramon.html](http://www.yad-vashem.org.il/about_yad/press_room/temp_index_press_room_ramon.html) ---
**Author:** ![Lyllyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@Lyllyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lyllyan)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/144 "2003-02-01T17:01:56Z")
> [@](#): > > My heart goes out not only to the very brave men and women of Challenger, but to their families, friends and everyone at NASA. I do apologize. Of course I mean _Columbia_, not Challenger. I am afraid I was having a flashback. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/145 "2003-02-01T17:02:50Z")
> [@](#): > > What in the hell is a 20 year old space shuttle still doing in service? It is not like they can call AAA when it breaks down in the middle of no where. The B-52s that are still in service and which will probably see combat again are older than their aircrews. Most of the General Aviation aircraft in the United States are 25 or 30 years old. Aircraft are subjected to rigourous inspections on a regular basis. Spacecraft are practically rebuilt after their flights. ---
**Author:** ![Jessity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jessity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jessity)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/146 "2003-02-01T17:03:09Z")
Ugh. Terrible news, very sad. I watched [Atlantis](http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/captions/100missions/sts-84.htm) take off from Cocoa Beach in May of 1997. It was one of the neatest things I’ll probably ever see. This news just sucks. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/147 "2003-02-01T17:04:59Z")
Well, I just hope they–unlike the poor Challenger crew–died instantly. How long till Pierre Salinger comes up with some harebrained conspiracy theory? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/148 "2003-02-01T17:06:38Z")
> [@](#): > > I don’t think we have enough spare parts lying about to assemble a new orbiter, like we did with Endeavour, I don’t think _Endeavour_ was built from “spare parts”. IIRC, there was a plan to build more Shuttles, and _Endeavour_ was the next one off the line. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_The\_Diver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Buck\_The\_Diver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_The_Diver)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/149 "2003-02-01T17:07:13Z")
I don’t know how long this will last, but a NOAA radar image of the shuttle breakup/debris can be seen [here](http://www.srh.noaa.gov/radar/latest/DS.p19r0/si.kpoe.shtml). ☹ ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@The\_Tof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tof)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/150 "2003-02-01T17:10:22Z")
I vividly remember watching the shuttle go up in flames in 1986. I was sick and stayed home from school. My grandmother called me to tell me there was a launch because I was way into that kind of stuff. I sat there in disbelief as I watched the screen. I cried. I was in, probably 5th grade, and yet I felt the full weight of that crash. It was like nothing I’d ever felt before. Today I feel the same as I did then. A strange combination of disbelief, grief and sorrow. It’s all I can think about now, and as I sit here at work, helping people sort out their internet service, and their billing problems, I feel like shouting at them all. On 9/11, when I woke up to the radio/alarm, I could tell right away something was wrong. The first words that actually sank in were something like, “It is currently believed Portland is not under threat at this time as New York City… America has come under attack.” Well that got my attention in a hurry, I bolted out of bed and ran to the TV. In my head, troops were storming the east coast. War was ensuing in my homeland. When I got to the TV, terrorism just seemed so much less frightening. Since then, I’ve never felt that sense of grief that most people felt on 9/11. Just guilt for not feeling it. I think I now know how must of you felt that day. May God bless the crew and their families. ---
**Author:** ![Hugh\_Jass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4da419/32.png) [@Hugh\_Jass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hugh_Jass)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/151 "2003-02-01T17:12:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LolaCocaCola \* > \*\*So sad to share my birthday with this tragic, historic event. ☹ > God bless. \*\* Lola, it is my birthday too. What a lousy way to spend the day. ---
**Author:** ![Santos\_L\_Halper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/santos_l_halper/32/1_2.png) [@Santos\_L\_Halper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santos_L_Halper)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/152 "2003-02-01T17:14:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tuckerfan \* > \*\*Pretty soon idiots are going to start screaming that the space program’s too dangerous and should be abandoned. None of the astronauts would want that. \*\* Sadly, you’re probably right. > [@](#): > > **"If we die, we want people to accept it. We’re in a risky business, and we hope that if anything happens to us it will not delay the program. The conquest of space is worth the risk of life."** > > - Gus Grissom, responding to a reporter, at a press conference for the first manned Apollo mission. He died in the Apollo 1 fire on January 27, 1967 My deepest sympathies to the families of the Columbia crew. Eric ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Dazzling\_White\_Diamonds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/41988e/32.png) [@Dazzling\_White\_Diamonds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dazzling_White_Diamonds)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/153 "2003-02-01T17:16:33Z")
I was a senior in HS back in 86 when the _Challenger_ exploded. My Business Law teacher had been one of many who had applied for that space flight. Even though he didn’t make it, we were very proud of him and were very excited about the upcoming launch. We found it very appropriate that we were in his class at the time of the _Challenger_ launch. As we stood in awe and watched the shuttle rising, I looked over at my teacher with a smile. He was fascinated. I remember turning back to watch the screen… and not seconds later, the shuttle exploded. Horror immediately set in. Everyone one of us in that classroom cried. We couldn’t believe what we had just seen. Those poor people and their families. Words just couldn’t convey how we all felt. And it’s happened again. Oh my God. My thoughts and prayers are with their families. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/154 "2003-02-01T17:18:05Z")
I watched Columbia’s maiden flight. It was the most exciting moment of my life up to then. She was beautiful, and I sat there in my classroom with my copy of Ray Bradbury’s _R is for Rocket_ in my lap, and I bounced in my chair like it was Christmas. She was beautiful. Goddamn. I can’t even see the screen to type. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/155 "2003-02-01T17:20:24Z")
:smack: ☹ Tripler Insert patriotic :: flag :: smiley here. ---
**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, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/156 "2003-02-01T17:21:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Buck The Diver \* > \*\*I don’t know how long this will last, but a NOAA radar image of the shuttle breakup/debris can be seen [here](http://www.srh.noaa.gov/radar/latest/DS.p19r0/si.kpoe.shtml). > > ☹ \*\* How do you know that is the debris? ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/157 "2003-02-01T17:21:50Z")
NBC has just announced that NASA has lowered the flag over the Astronaut Hall of Fame to half staff. Ditto for the flag at the White House. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/158 "2003-02-01T17:23:38Z")
I know this isn’t time to be funny, but I just heard that woman mention a “Major Nelson”. My prayers also. ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/159 "2003-02-01T17:24:24Z")
I just woke up. I saw this. I wish I was still asleep and this is a dream. ☹ Rest in peace. ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097/160 "2003-02-01T17:26:21Z")
Jeezopete, they’re showing film from this mission on our cable (Comcast). I think it’s feed from the NASA channel. To see these people going about their business in the shuttle the past few days and to know how the mission has ended is IMMEASURABLY sad to me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-just-lost-a-shuttle/152097.md?page=9)