spacetoday.net: NASA: no survivors from Columbia accident

Posted: Sat, Feb 1, 2003, 2:52 PM ET (1952 GMT)
STS-107 patch (NASA)

NASA officials, including administrator Sean O'Keefe, said Saturday afternoon that no survivors likely from the apparent breakup of the space shuttle Columbia Saturday morning. O'Keefe called today "a tragic day" for NASA and the nation during a brief statement he gave to the media. O'Keefe said he had been in contact with President Bush and Tom Ridge, the new secretary of homeland security, and that Bush had talked with the families of the STS-107 crew. Officials said they did not know what caused the accident, but that they could rule out it being caused by "anything or anyone on the ground". O'Keefe said that both an internal investigation team as well as an independent external team have been established and will both have full access to the data collected during reentry. Bill Readdy, NASA associate administrator for human spaceflight, said that people with photos or video of the reentry should contact NASA. A more detailed technical briefing is scheduled for 3 pm EST (2000 GMT).