http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0205shuttle-debris05.html
No confirmed shuttle debris found in Arizona, FBI says Video shows pieces falling over state Judi Villa The Arizona Republic February 5, 2003 Charred debris found in Arizona likely isn't from the space shuttle Columbia, FBI officials said Tuesday. "We believe that what we've collected, observed and responded to appears not to be connected to the shuttle disaster," FBI spokeswoman Susan Herskovits said. "However, we recognize that we are not the experts. To be fair, we're going to hold on to it and give it to the people who can rightly make that decision." NASA sent teams Tuesday to check out reports of space shuttle debris found in Arizona and California, material that could shed light on the earliest stages of Columbia's breakup. The debris could be wing material, but NASA has not determined whether it's connected to Columbia at all, said Michael Kostelnik, a spaceflight office deputy. "Debris early in the flight path would be critical because that material would obviously be near the start of the events" that unfolded during the shuttle's west-to-east trip across the country, Kostelnik said. The search so far has been concentrated from central Texas to central Louisiana. But video shot by an amateur photographer and turned over to Channel 3 (KTVK) shows chunks of debris falling from the shuttle as it traveled over northern Arizona. The video was shot from 6:54 to 6:58 a.m. Saturday at the Wupatki National Monument, about 30 miles north of Flagstaff, said Phil Alvidrez, executive news director at Channel 3. The state Department of Public Safety sent the video to NASA on Tuesday morning for analysis. Meanwhile, Valley residents continued to call police Tuesday about possible debris sightings, and Phoenix fire officials also weighed in, saying the ash that fell in a central Phoenix neighborhood could have been from a stubborn house fire. The fire broke out around noon Saturday in a two-story home near Third Street and Camelback Road. The fire was not too far from the neighborhood, near First and Missouri avenues, where debris reportedly fell. The house caught fire a second time early Sunday morning. Assistant Phoenix Fire Chief Bob Khan said the smoke plume from the fire picked up insulation, roofing felt, charred wood and piping that could have been carried by heavy winds. "It does seem like a coincidence that we had a fire the same morning as the Columbia incident," Khan said. "But I don't know. I'm not an expert in debris." DPS Officer Steve Volden said more than 60 people called Tuesday about debris. Few calls met the criteria for an officer to be sent. One item turned out to be a leather trunk liner, Volden said. In Yuma on Monday, reported debris turned out to be burned toast. "Let's not overestimate this," Gov. Janet Napolitano said. "Every piece of burned metal or ash that is found in Arizona over the next two weeks is not necessarily from the shuttle." ______________________________________________ Meteorite-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
