As some of you are already aware..i am noty very space smart so please be patient.

wouldn't the shuttle have had some sort of black box similar to those found on our commercial aircraft?
1) if it did..where on the shuttle craft would it be located?
2) wouldn't it have some sort of locater beacon?
3)if they have some sort of device like this would it work the same way as commercial aircraft as far as continuing to record all communications in the cabin, whether radio transmitions with mission control were still available or not?

it would seem to me that something of this nature would be extremely valuable as far as pertinent information on what was going on after communications were lost.
as i said i dont know much of these matters as i am still after 34 yrs of life awe struck just to watch a shuttle mission launch. But it would seem to me to be a logical system to have installed on all shuttle craft.these questions just popped into my mind last night and have been burning away all night long.
all inteligent answers would be greatly appreciated.
*meteor intercept suicide theories need not reply*