A new report issued by NASA just before the New Year reveals that the Columbia astronauts died from either a depressurization of the main cabin or a lethal trauma caused by being tossed around the cabin during Columbia's chaotic descent and break-up nearly 7 years ago. The report really just confirms the obvious, and seems to have been released mainly for public relations purposes ahead of the new Orion space capsule. NASA seems focused on letting the public know that lessons have been learned from the Columbia disaster, and that future vehicles will be safer.A piece of "environmentally friendly" foam breaking off the external fuel tank and striking the leading edge of the shuttle's left wing is the suspected cause of the destruction of Columbia during re-entry.
Still not officially addressed or explained is the mysterious purple streak photographed by an anonymous astronomer (or astronomy buff) as the spacecraft re-entered over California.
Here is a video reconstruction of the final minutes of Columbia's descent:
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5 comments:
Towards the very end of the video there was a white light that moved forward a bit faster then slowed than the rest of debris. could have been the way the pieces broke up.
But yes...there is no explanation of the purple streak, nor do I see it on the video.
In the end I still think it was NASA's hubris about the falling ice and it's danger to the tiles.
I would bet that NOBODY tested the tile strength by shooting chunks of ice at them to see if the would crack along a simultated wing. Even though they NEW ice chunks falling ONTO the orbiter WAS a recurring issue.
As usual NASA had it's collective OWL'S head up it's ass.
Bob...:D
Hi Mike!
I Hope to give us in this new year, more and more fascinated things, the DM2, the Lightbringer and more interesting debates on this blog.
Interesting the fact that we hear now and again about STS-107 mission.
First we heard on Oct 4, 2008 the fact that Ilan Ramon's diary survive after shuttle disaster.
http://www.newser.com/story/39119/diary-that-survived-shuttle-blast-goes-on-display.html
Now this report.
Hmmm....
Sure the article have been released ONLY for public relations purposes.
C'mon!
The agenda must go on!
Here is the official symbolism on the STS-107 patch, courtesy on NASA
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-107/html/sts107-s-001.html
And here is the real thing:
http://www.biblenews1.com/history3/20030105STS107.htm
Peace!
Re the zig-zagger, try http://www.jamesoberg.com/columbiazig-zag.pdf
I concur with Robert's intended message: "I would bet that NOBODY tested the tile strength by shooting chunks of ice at them to see if the would crack along a simultated wing. Even though they NEW ice chunks falling ONTO the orbiter WAS a recurring issue."
In fact, that's sort of what the CAIB pointed out -- nobody had tested foam (not ice) against RCC panel (not tile) protective layers at launch-like velocities -- they had 'assumed' it was 'hard enough'.
The sad part, it WASN'T usual -- it was a betrayel of sound safety attitudes that had in the past brought ships safely home again and again and again. In this case, some people made bad decisions and others didn't howl to the heavens. I'd walked out a few years earlier for testifying to Congress about the rotting safety culture -- and made fuss after fuss that couldn't change anything.
Robert: "But yes...there is no explanation of the purple streak, nor do I see it on the video."
I think there IS a prosaic explanation, and posted a link to it -- but that seems to have scared off all former commenters.
JimO,
I'd be willing to completly buy the zig-zag theory save for two issues. First, I would like NASA to officially address this and take a position on it. I read the Columbia accident report and didn't find anything addressing the purple streak.
Second, if this is such a common photographic phenomena, I'm sure you or somebody you know will have no problem producing a similar or identical effect on another shuttle reentry. Until then, I'm witholding judgement.
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