The U.S. space agency NASA said it lost contact with the space shuttle
Columbia minutes before a scheduled landing February 1, 2003 as it
crossed the United States with seven astronauts on board. The shuttle's
landing was overdue after it was planned to arrive at the Kennedy Space
Center at 9:16 a.m. EST (14:16 GMT). NASA officials lost contact with
the orbiter at about 9 a.m. (1400 GMT). A January 28, 2002 file photo
shows the Space Shuttle Columbia, atop its Mobile Launcher Platform, on
a launch pad after an early morning rollout from the Vehicle Assembly
Building. REUTERS/NASA/KSC/Handout

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