South Korea says North Korea has fired a projectile into waters off its eastern coast a day after launching three short-range missiles in the same area.More >>
South Korea is analyzing whether projectiles North Korea fired into its eastern waters over the weekend are short-range missiles or a new type of artillery the country may be developing, officials said Monday.More >>
Sunday, May 19 2013 11:06 PM EDT2013-05-20 03:06:31 GMT
(RNN) - Tornadoes have touched down in Oklahoma and Kansas, leaving a trail of damage.There are no reports of fatalities or injuries, but homes and businesses are damaged in Witchita, KS and outside ofMore >>
A tornado outbreak in the Midwest caused heavy damage to homes and businesses and one death has been reported in Oklahoma. More >>
With a bullet still in his body, the police officer who survived a showdown with the Boston Marathon bombing suspects says he's determined to return to duty.More >>
With a bullet still in his body, the police officer who survived a showdown with the Boston Marathon bombing suspects said Sunday he's determined to return to duty.More >>
Sunday, May 19 2013 5:00 PM EDT2013-05-19 21:00:22 GMT
The Alabama Department of Transportation will conduct its annual rehearsal of the plan that helped safely evacuate the Gulf Coast during Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and Hurricane Dennis in 2005. On Wednesday,More >>
The Alabama Department of Transportation will conduct its annual rehearsal of the plan that helped safely evacuate the Gulf Coast during Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and Hurricane Dennis in 2005. More >>
It's all about the odds, and one lone ticket in Florida has beaten them all by matching each of the numbers drawn for the highest Powerball jackpot in history at an estimated $590.5 million, lottery officials...More >>
Some lucky person walked into a Publix supermarket in suburban Florida over the past few days and bought a ticket now worth an estimated $590.5 million - the highest Powerball jackpot in history.More >>
As the space shuttle Discovery sat on the launch pad ready for liftoff, many East Texans recalled their role in Columbia's recovery effort. The Columbia incident was a tragedy East Texans will not forget, especially those involved in the recovery effort.
"From the standpoint of the university, we found out just how strong our alumni is... how strong our student body is - the pride that people put forth, and the cooperation. Professors were calling me and saying, 'Hey, I know that student so and so is helping in this program. Don't worry, I'll cut him some slack or I'll cut her some slack because I know this is important,'" says Bill Gardner, Project Coordinator for SFA's GIS Lab.
University personnel and students from the Hughes GIS lab at SFA tracked shuttle debris using the latest global positioning technology. Each person carryied away something different.
"We learned during that experience the importance of being prepared for such things. Those of us in the geo-spatial community have had an opportunity since then to look at the technology we embrace," says P. R. Blackwell with the Forest Research Institute.
For some, the Columbia disaster had a personal impact.
"Everybody had things going on in their lives at the time when it happened. I was in the middle of a nasty divorce, with child custody issues. And it was the shuttle accident that in a way that gave me the swift kick to be able to move forward with my life, to get back on track," says Gardner.
Now, with Columbia behind them, it's time to look to the future.
"I have a lot of respect for NASA, always have. I think they're ready, I think they've done the work that needs to be done to make the shuttle operation as safe as possible. Of course, nothing in this life is 100 percent safe," says Blackwell.
Gardner hopes the university's work was a big help for those who lost loved ones when Columbia broke apart.
"The one thing I hope to the families of Columbia is that the work that was done by our people here played a role in helping them with their grieving and healing process. And I'm sure I share in their efforts in seeing the next shuttle liftoff."
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