So far, a massive salvage operation has recovered about 10 percent of the giant spaceship since it exploded. All previously recovered cabin debris was found floating. However, sources have earlier disclosed the finding of personal effects such as astronaut flight helmets. Until now, NASA repeatedly has refused to confirm the reported recovery of body parts or personal effects of the crew. But debris from inside the cabin, including personal effects from crew lockers, already has been recovered, indicating its possible rupture. The condition of the reinforced crew compartment was not known. Richard Truly, associate administrator for space flight. The exact location of the module was not given for security reasons, according to the brief NASA announcement, which was approved by Rear Adm. ''Subsequent dives provided positive identification of Challenger crew compartment debris and the existence of crew remains.'' ''On Saturday morning, after securing operations during the night for safety reasons, the USS Preserver, whose divers are thoroughly briefed on debris identificaton and who have participated in similar recovery operations, began to work,'' a NASA statement said. But at least one family member, the father of astronaut McNair, apparently did not find out until Sunday. NASA spokesman Hugh Harris, who stressed that he did not know how many of the shuttle`s crew members may be inside the wreckage, said the cabin was found Friday by sonar at a depth of about 100 feet.Īt that time, Harris said, family members of the dead astronauts, including New Hampshire high schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe, were notified.
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