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Re: (meteorobs) A thought,
In a message dated 2/4/03 7:59:44 AM Eastern Standard Time, drobnock@penn.com
writes:
<< So often catastrophic entries as the Challenger are unobserved. Usually
when a man made space object reenters the atmosphere, it is over
unoccupied geography as not to in flick damage. Either the entry is
over the ocean or a very remote land form and only a few watch the
reentry, with passing interest. In some respect the information provided
is lost. >>
First, I believe that Mr. Drobnock meant to refer to the Columbia, not
the Challenger mission.
Second, with the reentry trajectory of Columbia slated to pass over a
large swath of the western and southern United States, I had sent out to
subscribers of an astro newsletter service that I publish, an e-mail advisory
two days in advance of the reentry indicating that Columbia would be visible
streaking across the sky. That same advisory was picked up and published by
Senior Science Editor Robert Britt on the SPACE.com website. Our hope was to
get as many people as possible to get out and enjoy the spectacle of a
reentering spacecraft. As I had pointed out on the original advisory, a
returning trajectory from the ISS would have put much of the reentry path
over the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. So here, was presented a most
unusual opportunity.
Part of what I had written included this paragraph:
"Those fortunate enough to have seen a Space Shuttle reenter the Earth's
atmosphere have described it as a " . . . fabulous sight; like a brilliant,
long-trailed fireball and certainly not to be missed -- easily video taped
and/or photographed."
Prophetic words . . . sadly gone awry.
I spent much of last weekend beating myself up for sending out that
advisory; I kept telling myself that I unknowingly alerted countless numbers
of people to go out and watch seven individuals plunge to a fiery death.
However . . . I've since received e-mails from many folks telling me that
although the sight of a reentry will always be colored by with trepidation
and sorrow from now on; perhaps my urging people to look at it, and even to
tape it, will provide NASA with some valuable forensic evidence. It is the
only solace that I can take away from this terrible tragedy.
-- joe rao
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