Columbia Space Ship Part Discovered by Authorities in Texas Lake
Authorities in Texas have recovered part from the space shuttle Columbia that had fallen into a lake last week.
The part which was confirmed to be from the Columbia by NASA, is four feet in diameter and is called a PRSD which stands for power reactant storage and distribution.
She also stated that the part is used to provide water and power for the shuttle missions.
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“It is one of ours,” Malone said, also stating the NASA had not yet decided on how they would retrieve the part. “We’re looking into whether we’ll send a team out or local authorities can.”
Nacogdoches in Texas is where the piece of the space shuttle fell. According the city’s authorities, they came across the part when droughts caused the lake’s water to recede. Upon locating it they immediately notified NASA on Friday.
“The lower water level has exposed a larger than normal area on the northern side of the lake,” said Nacogdoches Police Department Sgt. Greg Sowell. “A large round object became visible, and it is very possible that it is part of Columbia.”
This is not the first time Columbia parts have been found in the city. In 2003 debris from the Columbia shuttle was found in Nacogdoches shortly after the spacecraft broke up while re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere February 1st of that year.
“We want to remind everyone that the rules are the same as they were back in 2003. If this object is indeed part of the shuttle, it is government property, and it is a criminal offense to tamper with it,” said Sowell regarding the recovered part.
The destruction of the shuttle killed seven people and scattered parts of the ship all over East Texas.
