The Space Shuttle Columbia

The Space Shuttle Columbia
Dan Bruton

How You Can Help

Please help with the shuttle accident investigation by reporting the location of any debris that you find. Any piece found - whether it be a scrap or metal, a tile, a circuit board, or whatever - could help solve the mystery of the accident and help the space program. Contact the Johnson Space Center Emergency Operations or email images to columbiaimages@nasa.gov .

"The legacy of Columbia must carry on -- for the benefit of our children and yours."
--The families of the space shuttle Columbia

Nacogdoches Reports

Ed Michaels Eyewitness Account
- Ed Michaels is the planetarium director at SFA in Nacogdoches. He was using binoculars to watch Columbia pass over. He obviously had a very rare view of the event. He writes, "Something’s not right . . . the visual information pouring into my brain in those first few seconds had already sounded a warning deep in my subconscious."
Chris Dahl's Images- Images from Nacogdoches
Heather Dalton's Images - Images from Nacogdoches
Jonathan Currey's Images - Images from Nacogdoches
Ron Coryell's Images - Images from Nacogdoches
Dan Bruton's Images - Images from Nacogdoches
Jeffrey Bennett's Thoughts on Columbia - Astronomy author that gave a seminar at SFA 2 days before the accident
Comments on Columbia - Comments from our friends

More Information

Shuttle Re-entry Stages - MPEG Movie Simulation
- As the space shuttle prepares to re-enter the atmosphere, it banks either to the left or right to bleed off energy and slow down to prepare to land. As it pierces the atmosphere, faster than a bullet, it creates a lot friction. Thermal tiles on the bottom on the shuttle protect it from the intense heat. The animation is a simulation of a normal entry.
Daily Sentinel Reports and More Local Pictures
CNN Special Report
NASA Human Space Flight
Space Shuttle FAQ
How to Become an Astronaut
NASA Spinoffs

Observations

A ~30-45 second rumble was heard about 8 AM on Feb 1, 2003. The images below are from the Nacogdoches area. - Dan Bruton

Images by Chris Dahl and Dan Bruton from Nacogdoches

Canvas with slick wax-like surface, 9" by 9" in size with 3" by 3" square stitching with missing treads at 45 degree with respect to bottom, found at Pioneer Part in South Nacogdoches

"I looked at the fabric image. The specimen appears to be indeed a segment of "beta cloth"... The fabric that is highly utilized to cover and provide thermal protection for space hardware in the cargo bay. Its appearance (waxy coating on one side).. could indicate that it was utilized as part of an expriment "emblem patch".... The printing may have been "thermally" erased. Such emblems are attached with "velcro" along the edges where there is "stitching".. this could have ripped from that attachment. I do not want to further speculate... but would like to qualify these remarks by indicating that it appeared similar to "emblem patches" places on "Get Away Special GAS program containers." Furthermore I did see images from the news where one could identify these 5 cubic foot. experiment containers nearly intact... but without their beta cloth covering. The reader should please bear in mind that these are only initial "lead in" suggestions. Please feel free to circulate these comments to the public if necessary.
Sincerely,
Rolando M. Branly

Same canvas with slick wax-like surface, addition parallel stitching seen ~.5" apart

Same as above

Metal found on Seale Road near Pioneer Park in Nacogdoches, TX (not guarded at the time, call made, hope it was collected)

Same as above with apparent tile outlines

Small piece of heat sheild, GPS, Police Officer, in forest area between the Music Building and the Austin Building on the SFA Campus in Nacogdoches, TX