Space

DATE=02/01/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BUSH/SPACE SHUTTLE (S-UPDATE)

NUMBER=2-299092

BYLINE=SCOTT STEARNS

DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: President Bush is returning to the White House to meet with senior administration staff over the apparent break-up of the space shuttle Columbia, minutes before it was due to land in Florida. V-O-A's Scott Stearns has the story.

TEXT: President Bush was briefed on the disaster Saturday morning, and decided to return to the White House from the presidential retreat at Camp David, where he was scheduled to spend the weekend.

Spokesman Scott McClellan says Mr. Bush spoke with the director of the U-S space agency about 10:30 a-m local time, and will continue to be briefed throughout the day.

A Bush administration official says there is currently no indication that terrorism was involved, but the incident is being investigated fully. Flight controllers lost contact with the space shuttle at an altitude of about 66-thousand meters, well-beyond the range of surface-to-air missiles.

Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge has been in touch with local officials in the states of Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Arizona about procedures for collecting debris from the fallen shuttle.

U-S officials have also spoken with the Israeli government, as one of the astronauts on the shuttle was an Israeli air force colonel. (SIGNED)

NEB/SS/JP/TW