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Robert Mirelson
Headquarters, Washington
Feb. 1, 2003

RELEASE: 03-030

NASA STATEMENT ON LOSS OF COMMUNICATIONS WITH COLUMBIA

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.

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.

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.

More information will be released as it becomes available. 

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