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TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2003

A firefighter for the Fort Belknap Tribes of Montana found the data recorder for the downed space shuttle Columbia.

Chauncy Birdtail, 25, a member of the Robert Earth Boy's Fort Belknap No. 3 crew, found the device last week during a search in Texas. He is one of hundreds of tribal firefighters who have aided the recovery effort.

The recorder is considered crucial to understanding how and why Columbia disintegrated upon re-entry to Earth on February 1, killing all seven aboard.

Get the Story:
Fort Belknap man finds Columbia data recorder (The Great Falls Tribune 3/25)
Montana digest: Montanan found shuttle recorder (The Billings Gazette 3/25)

Relevant Links:
NASA - http://www.nasa.gov

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