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Background Information on
the COLUMBIA Space Shuttle Mission STS-107
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STS-107 Mission
Summary
STS-107 Flight: January
16-February 1, 2003
Crew:
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Commander Rick D.
Husband (second flight),
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Pilot William C.
McCool (first flight),
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Payload Specialist
Michael P. Anderson (second flight),
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Mission Specialist
Kalpana Chawla (second flight),
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Mission Specialist
David M. Brown (first flight),
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Mission Specialist
Laurel B. Clark (first flight),
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Payload Specialist
Ilan Ramon, Israel (first flight)
Payload:
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First flight of
SPACEHAB Research Double Module; Fast Reaction Experiments
Enabling Science, Technology, Applications and Research (FREESTAR);
first Extended Duration Orbiter (EDO) mission since STS-90. This
16-day mission is dedicated to research in physical, life, and
space sciences, to be conducted in approximately 80 separate
experiments, comprised of hundreds of samples and test points.
The seven astronauts worked 24 hours a day, in two alternating
shifts. 28 flights 1981-2003.
First flight:
April 12-14, 1981 (Crew John W. Young and Robert Crippen)
Most recent flight:
STS-109, March 1-12, 2002 Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission
Other notable missions:
STS 1 through 5, 1981-1982 first flight of European Space Agency
built Spacelab. STS-50, June 25-July 9, 1992, first
extended-duration Space Shuttle mission. STS-93, July 1999 placement
in orbit of Chandra X-Ray Observatory.
Past mission anomaly:
STS-83, April 4-8, 1997. Mission was cut short by Shuttle managers
due to a problem with fuel cell No. 2, which displayed evidence of
internal voltage degradation after the launch.
A Space Shuttle contingency was declared
earlier this morning in Mission Control when communication was lost with
the Space Shuttle Columbia during its return to Earth following a 16-day
mission.
Communication and tracking of the shuttle
was lost at 9 a.m. at an altitude of about 203,000 feet above north
central Texas while traveling approximately 12,500 miles per hour (Mach
18). No communication and tracking information was received in Mission
Control after that time.
Flight controllers in Mission Control
immediately began the process of securing all information, notes and
data pertinent to today's reentry and landing.
NASA TV is on AMC-2, Transponder 9C,
vertical polarization at 85 degrees West longitude, 3880 MHz, with audio
at 6.8 MHz.
NOTE TO PERSONS IN THE AREA:
Anyone who believes they have found debris related to Columbia should
call the Johnson Space Center Emergency Operations Center, (281)-483-3388.
Be aware that hazardous chemicals may be present; do not disturb or move
any debris.
All debris is United States Government
property and is critical to the investigation of the shuttle
accident. Any and all debris from the accident is to be left alone
and reported to Government authorities. Unauthorized persons found
in possession of accident debris will be prosecuted to the full extent
of the law.
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