Columbia Tethered Satellite Incident

It's raised position in the payload bay of Columbia. The Tethered Satellite, Tether was severed or broke last night at about 730pm central time. The Tethered Satellite was out at a distance of just over 12 miles when the break occurred. The satellite in its Tether separating away from Columbia. Flight controllers here in Houston continue to monitor the separation between Columbia and the Tethered Satellite. And we'll continue to do so tracking it by radar as the opportunities arise. Once again the boom will be retracted later this morning. The crew will then get a go to proceed with their U.S. microgravity payload operations. Flight controllers are continuing to collect data from yesterday evenings. The break of the Tethered Satellite that data of course to be analyzed. Post flight. As Columbia continues to track across the south Pacific Ocean all systems on board the orbiter performing very well. This is Columbia's 19th journey into space. We're currently three days, 14 hours, 30 minutes into the flight of Columbia. This is Mission Control Houston. The Tethered Satellite is the first time in the world. The Tethered Satellite is the first time in the world. The Tethered Satellite is the first time in the world. The Tethered Satellite is the first time in the world. The Tethered Satellite is the first time in the world. The Tethered Satellite is the first time in the world. The Tethered Satellite is the first time in the world. The Tethered Satellite is the first time in the world. The Tethered Satellite is the first time in the world. The Tethered Satellite is the first time in the world. The Tethered Satellite is the first time in the world. The Tethered Satellite is the first time in the world. The Tethered Satellite is the first time in the world. The Tethered Satellite is the first time in the world. The Tethered Satellite is the first time in the world. The Tethered Satellite is the first time in the world.