By now I'm sure we've all heard about STS-107 / Columbia and the tragic fate suffered by her and her Brave Last Crew on 1 February 2003. We'll touch only briefly on that painful chapter in the history of space exporation here. Suffice it to say, that until that last terrible moment, the flight of STS-107 was all routine for the Astronauts aboard. They did their jobs, carried out the various planned experiments, and enjoyed their time on orbit.

It took me nearly two years to work up the courage to comb through my 38 six hour VHS tapes of the STS-107 flight. Until September 2004, the prospect of watching all those smiling Astronauts, and knowing they were gone, was just too much heartache to bear. It also seemed to me that some might think it rather morbid (and disrespectful to those lost) to expose the anomalies and inconsistencies which appeared on those tapes. But I feel now that Shuttle flight STS-114 has been successful, it's safe to say we have "moved on". ...........I sincerely hope you'll agree.

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Space Shuttle Columbia lifted off from Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, in Florida at 9:39 AM CST (15:39 GMT) on 16 January 2003. At the time, no one knew it was to be her tragic last flight. Shortly after liftoff, a chunk of insulation broke free of the External Tank and fatally impacted the leading edge of the left wing.

The Crew of STS-107 conducted in excess of 80 different scientific experiments during their mission. These included Earth and space science, advanced technology development, and (ironically!) astronaut health and safety. Most of the experiments were located in the SPACEHAB Research Double Module (RDM), in Columbia's cargo bay. This was the RDMs only flight.

To allow for research to be carried out on a 24 hour a day basis, the crew were separated into two teams; Red Team and Blue Team.

Columbia broke up on re-entry over Texas 16 minutes before her sceduled landing at the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility on 1 February 2003. Total flight duration: 15 days 22 hours 20 minutes. All aboard lost their lives. There were no more Shuttle flight for the next 30 months to allow NASA the time necessary to evaluate the accident, and implement procedures to prevent a repetition of the disaster.

On 19 January 2003, Columbia was in her third day on orbit. Amongst the activities that day were the narrated presentation of the "Crew Choice" view from space. Shuttle pilot Wille McCool did the voice over, and the chosen video clip was of the Middle-Eastern region surrounding the Sinai Peninsula. Standing out in the scene were a number of obvious Chem-Trails, which pilot McCool claimed were ordinary jet contrails. He even stumbled verbally, as if he knew he was voicing a falsehood, but was nevertheless under orders to do so.

We'll take a close look at these trails in the atmosphere of Earth far below the Shuttle that day. First we will peruse the best single frame from the original video, without marks or labels, so that we may understand what was in sight at the time.

NASA PHOTO

A second example of a jet contrail as seen from space using high powered lenses. Neither of the above in any way resemble the chemtrail pattern seen over the Middle East on 19 January 2003.

Next, the shadow cast by the Chem-Trail.

Finally, we have the blow-up without marks, lines, or labels so that you may use it for comparison and study. IF these trails in the skies of the Middle East are really just jet exhaust, WHERE DOES THE REQUISITE MASS COME FROM, FOR THEM TO BE SO LARGE??

Another example of Chemtrails as seen from orbit is from STS-114.

When someone wants to argue with you that chem-trails are mere contrails, ask them "Where does all that MASS comes from then?" That's the key point in dismissing the contrail / ice crystal argument. MASS.

Imagine an old car that is burning oil due to bad piston rings. The blue cloud belching from its tailpipe IS nasty, but there isn't that much of it, and the cloud will dissipate rapidly. Can this car, by driving down one road through a small town, create a heavy blanket of smoke over the ENTIRE town? Of course not; there isn't enough MASS in that old car's exhaust. The same principle applies to chem-trails. Jet exhaust, known as a contrail, doesn't contain enough MASS to account for the phenomenon we call chemtrails.

For a more detailed discussion of the phenomenon, please click HERE.

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At the end of the day, it's up to YOU to draw your own conclusions.

© 2005 Jeff Challender