I'm not looking for gruesome details but is anyone here in the debris area that can give us a first hand account? From the news reports it seems to be a miracle that no one was hit by falling material.

I have a old service buddy who just called from there. Debri is turning up everywhere- even on EBAY <img src="images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> I found my local Post Office flying the flag at full staff and told the Post Master to fix it.They were "to busy." I was told by a third party my swearing approached James Joyce stream of consciousness before the police were called. They thought I was justified and suggested the flag be lowered <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I have been told 7 astronauts are nothing: we lose people every day to crashes in the air and on our roadways. But these people WERE special. The space program is one of the few programs that reflect what is good about our species. I am sad.

I live in Dallas.

I heard nothing myself, but I know two people, one my brother and the other a good friend of some years, who both were awoken by what they described as a sonic boom that "went on too long". Both live near me. My friend went out her front door and began to look around for the dust cloud, because she said she assumed a nearby building must have fallen down. My brother ignored the sound, after it finally stopped. Neither saw anything, but this email was the first thing I saw when I got up in the morning. It's from a third person I know, who works in an emergency response unit:

>The Shuttle is Gone.
>
>I have been called to get the FirstResponder to cover the debris clean up.
>
>Eric

I am told that the first footage of the breakup to hit the airwaves after the incident was from someone taking amateur footage in "Deep Ellum", a section of "Elm" street 20 minutes' drive from where I live, traffic permitting. So, my understanding is that Columbia blew up somewhere more or less directly above us. Given it's speed, obviously, none of the debris came down around where I live... it all traveled on to counties east of here.

Watching the news, yeah, my reaction also was that it was amazing no one was hit. I watched an interview with two men who were standing "a few yards" from where a globe shaped and, apparently, hollow object landed ... perhaps a fuel cell. They sure were more than just a bit freaked out! Everyone who can be spared has apparently been asked to go out and watch debris sites, and the public has been asked to leave the debris where it is, on the "honor system". Obviously, a less than 100% solution, but who ever expected to be guarding thousands of spacecraft pieces strewn over four or five counties?

I watched very little TV this weekend. I don't know how much coverage this incident got in other parts of the country and world, but around Dallas/Ft. Worth, it's literally all that I saw on any channel all day yesterday. My girlfriend was messed up the whole day ... crying and sad ... so we didn't watch any TV. We just avoided it as best we could, though it was playing on every TV in every restaraunt or store or public venue that would have a TV.

As we were driving on 75/Central, a highway that is a major north/south thoroughfare through Dallas, the overhead message signs read, "Call 972-(some-number) to report debris." It was impossible to avoid news of the incident, no matter how much she wanted to. So, we ate lunch, did some needed-items-only shopping, went home and spent the day watching lighthearted videos to try to help her stabilize.

I understand her feelings, although I'm less emotionally affected than I would have expected. I wonder if my first response was to "stuff" my own feelings so I could be there to console her. I don't know. This whole thing is just really sad, but I feel I'm not quite "real" about it yet...

Actually, writing this is the saddest I've felt in two days. I guess I'm just slow to react. Come to think of it, I guess I usually am.

Chris, Are you referring to he Ventura PO on Santa Clara? I was by there yesterday, and I figured the flag was at half mast - it wasn't hoisted all the way to the top and it looked like theywere trying to avoid tangling it in a nearby tree. Presumably the PO does respond to official presidential orders which are now in effect. I made several phone calls to try and find someone to fix the flag at the end of the Ventura Pier - a fun job onSunday!

Yes, it is rather petty symbolism, but somehow it is the least we can do to honor some really fine people.

Don, No, it was here in Thousand Oaks,along with a bank,Burger King,Sears,auto body shop and a church. After devouring Joseph Campbell's writings; I realise symbolism is never petty. Proper display of our flag means as much to me as the bison painted at Lascaux to it's makers.

I'd like to say thanks to Chris for the outrage. I also wish the media would stop bashing NASA, at least until after the remains of these heroes are buried. It was a tragedy, and quite possibly an accident that no NASA manager, or engineer could have forseen. I am proud of our space program and always will be. It astonishes me that they do what they do and can get those big things up there to begin with. We take so much for granted. Regards to all, and proud to be an American. Tom

TomR,

I feel much the same and concur with your thoughts. Below is a post that I recently made on CandlePowerForums.com that touches on the subject.

*********

Most sadly, once again mankind has been reminded that Mother Nature and Murphy's Law both seem to have a penchant for allowing us to become too complacent in going about our daily lives, then, alas, very graphically and painfully, pointing out our weaknesses by pointing out that every advance in mans exploration of the amazing world and universe in which we live has required tolls to be paid in the quest for knowedge.

Despite the platitudes of and for, the PHRASECENSOREDPOSTERSHOULDKNOWBETTER., their herders, the rampant rumor mongering, the media misdirection, smoke and mirrors of what the government can and can't/won't tell us about what did or did not happen, as well as the other naysayers, the cold hard fact remains . . . without the benefits derived from mankinds continual "pushing the envelope" of knowledge and technology, the world today would be a much sadder and dimmer place to live.

As a kid, I grew up vicariously living the space age, read all I could, and stayed glued to the black & white TV watching Walter Cronkite on the news during the space shots of the 60's, cried when the launchpad fire occurred, thrilled to see the men on the moon, shared in our collective deep pain from Challenger disaster, was thrilled to see Americans in space again after the shuttle program was restarted, and sadly, today, shared in the world's grief first thing this morning.

Our trials and tribulations only temper our resolve to go on, and force us to strive harder. We will continue, there will be investigations, theories will abound, fingers will be pointed, blamesharing will occur, there will be delays, BUT EVENTUALLY, OUT OF ALL OF THIS WILL COME BETTER EQUIPMENT, PROCEDURES, FAIL SAFES AND CONTIGENCY PLANNING.

Let us not loose sight that we WILL move ahead, and that the world will be better for it. We will not let those who lost their lives in mans exploration of his world and universe die in vain.

It will only be by putting our collective heads in the sand in a gravely stupid and irresponsible attempt to hide from reality, will those deaths be in vain.

I have the utmost admiration for those explorers in our lives, those that defend our way of life and peace in the world, who are put in harms way each day, ranging from the average person on the street that steps into the the path of a vehicle and to save a child, the volunteers that do lifeguard duty, the volunteer and paid fire and police department staff, and the armed services.

The seven who lost their lives today will be dearly missed by their friends and family, and the only thing aside from sharing our compassion as human beings and fellow travelers on spaceship earth for their loss that we can do, is to MAKE SURE THAT THEY DID NOT DIE IN VAIN BY ROADBLOCKING AND/OR RUNNING AWAY FROM THE SPACE PROGRAM.

This morning, there were seven new lights in our sky. We will follow in their paths.

My family and I join the world in offering sincere expressions of sympathy and condolences to families and friends whose lives are most directly affected in this tragedy.

**********

Respectfully,
Comanche7 (aka Lighthouse) & family

Well said. Pete

Just a side note...someone at NASA sent a message to the CHP stating that the shuttle started breaking up over Texas, and with its speed and everything debris would be falling in California. They were requesting that the CHP assist in locating any of this debris. It looks to me as if someone at NASA had the shuttle going the wrong direction...

I heard that NASA would be interested to see if any debris was located in AZ or NM (Not sure about CA). If so, it would give them a better idea of what failed first. As of a few minutes ago (12:30 east coast time) there is a report that some small debris may have been found in AZ.

Chris

paramedicpete,

Thanks.

Commanche7 and family,
Thanks for your thoughtful sentiments. Today I heard more than a few people comment that the loss of seven people was no big deal, and that the money spent by NASA should be spent on something more useful like social programs. Imagine the complaints we'd here from the same people if we took away the technology and medical knowledge gained from the space program. They are missing the nobility attached to those willing to risk their lives to travel in space. The astronauts are indeed explorers, and the frontier is still untamed. One day the masses with simpler dreams will follow in their footsteps, and take little notice of the monuments erected to those who first blazed the trail. Regards to all, Tom

Sorry Comanche7, I mispelled your name. Regards, Tomm

TomR,
No problem. <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I've found the editing tool pretty useful in going back and performing after the fact quick fixes on posts. After posting, view the thread that you posted to, scroll down to your post. If you find an "ooops" <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> , just click on the "Edit" button on the top right of your post. FWIW, In some forums, the edit function seems to have a time limit on how long after posting you may edit, haven't really checked it out on ETS though.

Regards,
Comanche7

<I have been told 7 astronauts are nothing: we lose people every day to crashes in the air and on our roadways. But these people WERE special.>
Chris maybe I interpreted your post wrong but the impression I got was that your thought the lives of these astronouts was more important than that of those killed in the air or on the roads. And you said they were special, come on, everyone is special not just astronouts.
P.S there was a V.interesting article in an english newspaper about the kind of news that people want to hear etc. you should be able to read it at the Guardian unlimited site.
-james

James, I did not put a measure or value on anyone's death. We will never know the unwritten music, technical discoveries or other advances lost with every life cut short. The shuttle astronauts were special because they represented those accumulated efforts. If Chubby Brown and a rap group were in their place my feelings would remain.