Texas Drought Leads To Possible Piece Of Columbia
NACOGDOCHES (CBSDFW.COM) - The drought currently impacting much of the state is helping in the recovery of debris from the 2003 space shuttle Columbia disaster.
Low lake levels have led to the emergence of what looks like a tank, about four foot in diameter, from the doomed shuttle.
Columbia came apart during re-entry over East Texas on February 1, 2003, killing all seven astronauts on board. The debris field spread from the eastern part of North Texas to a large area around Nacogdoches.
The tank was discovered in a part of Lake Nacogdoches which is normally 18 feet under water. The drought has drained that part of the lake and the object is now exposed.
Nacogdoches police have sent photos to NASA to see if the debris is indeed part of Columbia. Police are warning that if the object is part of the shuttle, it's government property and anyone tampering with it would be subject to prosecution.
KRLD's Barbara Schwarz reports:
