Columbia

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Tomorrow, Feb. 1st, is the 14th anniversary of the destruction of the Space Shuttle Columbia over Texas in 2003. The shuttle's left wing was damaged by foam falling from the external tank fittings. The damage allowed reentry heat to enter and destroy the left wing, causing the shuttle to disintegrate. Disintegration actually started over California. Killed were:

Rick D. Husband, Commander
William C. McCool, Pilot
Michael P. Anderson, Payload Commander
Kalpana Chawla, Mission Specialist
David M. Brown, Mission Specialist
Laurel Clark, Mission Specialist
Ilan Ramon, Israeli, Payload Specialist

It was later revealed that although the NASA Mission Management Team was aware of the possibility of damage, when they finally informed Commander Hubbard and Pilot McCool the possibility of significant damage was downplayed as insignificant and would be checked after the shuttle returned. A key factor in NASA's decision to dismiss the risk were the simple facts that the shuttle crew had no way to look for damage and no way to repair any that was found.

I have a bit of a connection to the aftermath. FEMA's sophisticated 800 mhz radio system simply didn't work in the forests of eastern Texas. As a result amateur radio operators with their 2m (144 mhz) radio equipment provided communication between the search teams and the command post. A large number of amateur radio operators responded, bringing their sleeping bags, cots, food and radios with them. They'd stay as long as they could then go home, replaced by fresh volunteers. We received no pay for our time and all our expenses were out of our own pockets. Amateur radio has always responded to disasters both large and small. Its part of what we do.

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