DISASTER IN THE SKY OVER TEXAS COLUMBIA DESTROYED ON RE-ENTRY Communication and tracking of the shuttle Columbia was lost at 9 a.m. EST at an altitude of about 203,000 feet in the area above north central Texas. At the time communications were lost. The shuttle was traveling approximately 12,500 miles per hour (Mach 18). No communication and tracking information were received in Mission Control after that time. (From NASA) The Crew of Coulmbia STS-107 May God be with you. LINKS STS-107 NASA Page NASA Live Video Feeds (Broadband) KTVT TV, Dallas WFAA TV, Dallas / Fort Worth CNN 7:05 AM Pacific time, 2/1/03. NOAA Radar track of debris from Columbia. (Long track between Tyler and Lufkin Texas.)