While on a Google search I inadvertently stumbled across this page eerily frozen in time.
A countdown page from the John F. Kennedy Space Center last revised Feburary 13, 2003 from NASA for STS-107... a space shuttle mission by NASA using the Space Shuttle Columbia, launched January 16, 2003.
The last mission for Columbia.
Rear (L-R): David Brown, Laurel Clark, Michael Anderson, Ilan Ramon;
Front (L-R): Rick Husband, Kalpana Chawla, William McCool
Wikipedia: The seven-member crew died on February 1, 2003 when the shuttle disintegrated during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. The cause of the accident was a piece of foam that broke off during launch and damaged the thermal protection system components (reinforced carbon-carbon panels and thermal protection tiles) on the leading edge of the left wing of the Shuttle orbiter, causing an extensive heat build-up. During re-entry the damaged wing slowly overheated and came apart, eventually leading to loss of control and total disintegration of the vehicle.
ALL SYSTEMS NOT NORMAL
When I first came across that page and the title T-9 minutes and counting... it took me a few seconds to realize this page represented the ill fated Space Shuttle Mission as there is no mention of the final outcome of the mission. The Friendly "Did you Know?" factoid on the left further threw me off.
Did You Know?
The liquid oxygen vent on the external tank has been opened to allow the super-cold liquid oxygen to boil off, thus preventing over pressurization while the tank remained near its full level. Now, with the vent closed, preparations are made to bring the tank to its flight pressure. This occurs at T minus 2 minutes, 55 seconds.
Once the Shuttle's on board computers start their terminal launch sequence any problem after that point will require calling a "hold" and the countdown recycled to T minus 20 minutes. Meanwhile, the Ground Launch Sequencer (GLS) continues to monitor several hundred launch commit functions and is able automatically to call a "hold" or a "cutoff" if a problem occurs.
On the insignia for STS-107, the central element of the patch is the microgravity symbol, µg, flowing into the rays of the astronaut symbol. The mission inclination is portrayed by the 39 degree angle of the astronaut symbol to the Earth's horizon. The sunrise is representative of the numerous experiments that are the dawn of a new era for continued microgravity research on the International Space Station and beyond. The constellation Columba (the dove) was chosen to symbolize peace on Earth and the Space Shuttle Columbia. The seven stars also represent the mission crew members and honor the original astronauts who paved the way to make research in space possible. The Israeli flag is adjacent to the name of the payload specialist who is the first person from that country to fly on the Space Shuttle.
T-00 minutes, 10 seconds and counting -- the "go for main engine start" command is issued by the Ground Launch Sequencer. (The GLS retains the capability to command main engine stop until just before the Solid Rocket Boosters are ignited.) Concurrently, flares are ignited under the main engines to burn away any residual gaseous hydrogen that may have collected in the vicinity of the main engine nozzles. A half second later, the flight computers order the opening of valves which allow the liquid hydrogen and oxygen to flow into the engine's turbo pumps.
I'll never forget that day.
Every so often I would check the NASA website to see what orbital positions shuttles were in while on active missions, hoping to catch a rare glimpse.
As fate would have it... that day I went outside, looked up and behold! I observed one... then two bright objects soaring across the Pacific sky.
There they were!!! The Space Station and the STS-107 amidst the separation dance, drifting apart from one another both traveling at thousands of mph. It was a beautiful sight to behold. I quickly scrambled onto my roof to watch as they finally drifted and faded out of view.
Like that archive page at KSC my memory too is frozen in time.
The mind tricks you, prefers to remember the delicate dance... but nothing can ever obscure the sadness of that day.
God's Speed brave warriors
The STS-107 crewmembers strike a ‘flying’ pose for a traditional in-flight crew portrait in the SPACEHAB aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia.The picture was on a roll of unprocessed film recovered by searchers from the Columbia debris.
Posts
