[meteorite-list] Air Force Imagery Confirms Columbia Wing Damaged

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:18:25 2004
Message-ID: <200302071625.IAA12898_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts107/030207avweek/

Air Force imagery confirms Columbia wing damaged
BY CRAIG COVAULT
AVIATION WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLOGY/aviationnow.com
PUBLISHED HERE WITH PERMISSION
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.

According to sources close to the investigation, the images, under analysis
at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, show a jagged edge on the left
inboard wing structure near where the wing begins to intersect the fuselage.
They also show the orbiter's right aft yaw thrusters firing, trying to
correct the vehicle's attitude that was being adversely affected by the left
wing damage.

Full story here:

http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts107/030207avweek/
Received on Fri 07 Feb 2003 11:25:13 AM PST