Aviation Week & Space Technology Report confirms Columbia wing damaged

[Towncrier]

I just ran across this article about the Columbia space shuttle that I thought might be of interest.

Air Force imagery confirms Columbia wing damaged
BY CRAIG COVAULT
AVIATION WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLOGY/aviationnow.com
Posted: February 7, 2003

High-resolution images taken from a ground-based Air Force tracking camera in southwestern U.S. show serious structural damage to the inboard leading edge of Columbia's left wing, as the crippled orbiter flew overhead about 60 sec. before the vehicle broke up over Texas killing the seven astronauts on board Feb. 1.

The article goes on to explain in detail just how the leading edge of the wing might have been damaged and how that damage could have led to the disasterous results.

For the complete text of this story, click on http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts107/030207avweek/

 

[Serena]

 

[minniepumpernickel]

Thanks for posting this! I found the paragraph particularly interesting about reentry. The part where they discussed possible scenarios that may have worked if they had known that the wing had been damaged. It sounded like the chances of them being successful were really remote though.

 

[helenabear]

Thanks for that link John. I found that article very interesting and informative. It seems like they have a good idea as to what may have happened.

 

[Towncrier]

They showed one of the photos mentioned in this article on the news tonight. It was very pixelated and I'm not sure how they can determine anything from it. I guess those image processing gurus can work wonders with very little data. According to the news report, the camera system used had just been loaded with new tracking software and it was a fluke that they were trying to track the Columbia as it passed overhead.

 

[Rajah]

Thanks for posting this, TC -- since I was home sick from work today, I didn't see this report until I saw your post.

 

[Mom2Em]

Thanks for the post... It was very interesting...