Crew of Columbia Survived a Minute After Last Signal
While some news reports after the Feb. 1 accident suggested that the astronauts died as soon as the shuttle broke apart, the space agency and the investigation board have been circumspect about any such details. Even in the hangar at the Kennedy Space Center, the debris from the crew cabin is laid out separately in a private area, and officials have promised to not disclose what they characterize as morbid details. Records indicate, though, that the crew capsule would have been severely buffeted, and the crew was aware of sensor readings indicating major problems.