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Columbia gets ready to re-enter the atmosphere by firing rockets
Debris is spread over a wide area, because the shuttle was about 65 km above the earth when it exploded. |
8:15 a.m. Space shuttle Columbia fires its braking rockets and streaks toward touchdown. 8:53 a.m. Ground controllers lose data from four temperature indicators on the inboard and outboard hydraulic systems on the left side of the spacecraft. The shuttle is functioning normally otherwise, so the crew is not alerted. 8:56 a.m. Sensors detect rise in temperature and pressure in tires on the shuttle's left-side landing gear. 8:58 a.m. Data is lost from three temperature sensors embedded in the shuttle's left wing. 8:59 a.m. Data is lost from tire temperature and pressure sensors on the shuttle's left side. One of the sensors alerts the crew, which is acknowledging the alert when communication is lost. Approximately 9 a.m. All vehicle data is lost. The shuttle is 207,135 feet over north-central Texas and is traveling about Mach 18.3. NASA officials try to re-establish communication for several minutes. Texas and Louisiana residents report a loud noise and bright balls &endash; shuttle debris -- in the sky. 9:16 a.m. NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe contacts President Bush and Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge when the shuttle does not land on schedule. O'Keefe later says Bush "offered full and immediate support." 9:29 a.m. NASA declares an emergency. 9:44 a.m. NASA warns residents of affected area to stay away from debris. 11 a.m. The flag atop the countdown clock at Florida's Kennedy Space Center is lowered to half-staff. Flags at the White House and Capitol soon follow. |
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