- WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The
following is the text of a statement issued by the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA) on loss of communications with space shuttle
Columbia:
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- "A Space Shuttle contingency has been declared in
Mission Control, Houston, as a result of the loss of communication with
the Space Shuttle Columbia at approximately 9 a.m. EST Saturday as it descended
toward a landing at the Kennedy Space Center), Fla. It was scheduled to
touchdown at 9:16 a.m. EST.
- e
- Communication and tracking of the shuttle was lost at
9 a.m. EST at an altitude of about 203,000 feet in the area above north
central Texas. At the time communications were lost, the shuttle was traveling
approximately 12,500 miles per hour (Mach 18). No communication and tracking
information were received in Mission Control after that time.
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- Search and rescue teams in the Dallas-Fort Worth and
in portions of East Texas have been alerted. Any debris that is located
in the area that may be related to the Space Shuttle contingency should
be avoided and may be hazardous as a result of toxic propellants used aboard
the shuttle. The location of any possible debris should immediately be
reported to local authorities.
-
- Flight controllers in Mission Control have secured all
information, notes and data pertinent to today's entry and landing by Space
Shuttle Columbia and continue to methodically proceed through contingency
plans.
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- News media covering the Space Shuttle should stay tuned
to NASA Television, which is broadcast on AMC-2, transponder 9C, C-Band,
located at 85 degrees West longitude. The frequency is 3880.0 MHz. Polarization
is vertical and audio is monaural at 6.8 MHz. Reporters can also go to
any NASA center newsroom to monitor the situation."
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