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Space Shuttle Columbia's First Victims
Posted on 2/1/26 at 12:38 am
Posted on 2/1/26 at 12:38 am
Today marks the 23rd year since Columbia broke up during reentry killing seven astronauts.
But a tragic part of our space program's history and lesser known occurred on the morning of 3/19/81 when Rockwell technicians succumbed to asphyxiation from GN2 in Columbia's aft compartment while on the launch pad. One died onsite, another two weeks later, and another from complications 14 years later.
Here's a couple of articles. The first has some pretty good detail while the second is a little more accessible.
BAEN
Death on the Launch Pad
But a tragic part of our space program's history and lesser known occurred on the morning of 3/19/81 when Rockwell technicians succumbed to asphyxiation from GN2 in Columbia's aft compartment while on the launch pad. One died onsite, another two weeks later, and another from complications 14 years later.
Here's a couple of articles. The first has some pretty good detail while the second is a little more accessible.
BAEN
Death on the Launch Pad
6
Posted on 2/1/26 at 12:41 am to AlwysATgr
I was involved in the recovery of the bodies from that reentry incident. shite stuck with me.
Posted on 2/1/26 at 12:48 am to jbgleason
quote:Were any bodies intact?
I was involved in the recovery of the bodies from that reentry incident. shite stuck with me.
Posted on 2/1/26 at 1:52 am to RFK
Man just said how it fricked him up and you come charging out the gate asking for grisly details?
Wtf man?
You need to touch grass because you have obviously forgotten there are real people on the other side of the post.
Wtf man?
You need to touch grass because you have obviously forgotten there are real people on the other side of the post.
This post was edited on 2/1/26 at 1:53 am
Posted on 2/1/26 at 2:45 am to Volvagia
He offered his take and I followed up with a reasonable question based on scientific curiosity.
I would imagine no given the high G loads and other environmental factors. This is different from Challenger.
I would imagine no given the high G loads and other environmental factors. This is different from Challenger.
Posted on 2/1/26 at 2:50 am to Volvagia
Maybe he needs to talk about it.
Posted on 2/1/26 at 6:11 am to Volvagia
Good lord some of you are soft bitches. Go touch some vag.
Posted on 2/1/26 at 7:01 am to Volvagia
Saying “you need to touch grass” proves you are a fraud. A simple trend follower. I bet you also love to use the word “adjacent” in conversations as much as possible.
Posted on 2/1/26 at 7:10 am to AlwysATgr
It’s crazy how professional everyone stayed during the whole thing.
Posted on 2/1/26 at 8:37 am to Dirk Dawgler
What does Go touch grass even mean? I only see it here
Posted on 2/1/26 at 8:40 am to RFK
quote:
Were any bodies intact?
Don't have any specifics - but entering the atmosphere without a working heat shield in place, in a structurally failed vehicle would produce some grim results for anything flammable.
The crew cabin is more rigorously designed than any other part, because it has to withstand that extreme heat realm, even under normal conditions. A spacecraft that was not controlled to be in optimal attitude and without any control would be akin to tossing cardboard box full of delicate ceramics into a concrete mixer.
Posted on 2/1/26 at 8:42 am to ChineseBandit58
The video from inside Columbia during re-entry is ominous to say the least
Posted on 2/1/26 at 8:50 am to AlwysATgr
quote:
But a tragic part of our space program's history and lesser known occurred on the morning of 3/19/81 when Rockwell technicians succumbed to asphyxiation from GN2 in Columbia's aft compartment while on the launch pad. One died onsite, another two weeks later, and another from complications 14 years later.
Such a failure of confined space monitoring
Posted on 2/1/26 at 8:56 am to GeorgeTheGreek
quote:
The video from inside Columbia during re-entry is ominous to say the least
Wait what? Where can you see this? I’ve never seen that or even knew that existed.
ETA: I assume it’s this one:
This post was edited on 2/1/26 at 9:02 am
Posted on 2/1/26 at 8:59 am to Napoleon
quote:Putting your bare feet on the grass/earth calms your nervous system so it’s just a trendy way of saying calm down.
What does Go touch grass even mean? I only see it here
Posted on 2/1/26 at 9:03 am to AlwysATgr
Heard the woman had the most beautiful blue eyes. One blew over here and one over there.
Posted on 2/1/26 at 9:07 am to CocomoLSU
Yep, that one. You don’t see the breakup obviously but still weird.
Posted on 2/1/26 at 9:35 am to tWildcat
“Lock the doors”
Posted on 2/1/26 at 10:25 am to jbgleason
quote:
I was involved in the recovery of the bodies from that reentry incident. shite stuck with me.
I’ve been on some recovery missions while in the AF. Shits not pretty.
We had one B1 crash near Dyess and the aircraft was spread for miles it seemed. Bodies were recovered a little here and a little there. It wasn’t anything I’d ever volunteer for.
Posted on 2/1/26 at 10:28 am to mattz1122
Those Astronauts were the first deaths attributable to the war on climate change that I'm aware of. The propellant used to apply main tank insulation was switched due to the old stuff being bad for the precious ozone layer and we know how well it wound up sticking to the tank.
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