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"We must find what happened, fix it, and move on. We can't let their sacrifice be in vain."
-The families of the astronauts aboard Columbia
February 1, 2003

Originally posted by nepenthe
damn........ <sniffing back tears>

shant,
david

Exactly and your not alone.

Originally posted by Bouncer
Spaceflight is fundamentally a dangerous excercise. There will always be losses. There are so many forces conspiring against success on any level that every successful mission is almost a miracle.

This going to happen again and again. We cannot let it dampen our spirit for exploration. The astronauts themselves would insist on it. That is what truly separates mankind from the beasts in the forest. It's being willing to take that chance, to see what's over the next horizon.

God Speed Columbia.

Thomas Blakely

Well said.

Very sad day. I'm watching President Bush right now

They're showing quite a few debris fallout locations now.

A sad day. Woke up an hour ago to find this had happened.

Some brief notes on the crew:

Commander Rick Husband.
the 45-year-old mission commander, was a former test pilot selected for NASA's space program in 1994. Husband was a veteran of one previous space flight, a 10-day mission in 1999 during which the shuttle crew performed the first docking with the International Space Station.

Ilan Ramon, 47.
became the first Israeli to enter space when he blasted off with the ill-fated STS-107 mission. A colonel and fighter pilot in the Israeli Air Force, Ramon was approved by NASA in 1998 and began training as an astronaut later the same year.

Shuttle pilot William McCool, 40.
was a former test pilot who was making his first space flight with the 111th shuttle mission. McCool was selected by NASA in 1996.

Michael Anderson, 42.
was a former instructor pilot who had logged 211 hours in space on a previous shuttle mission in 1998. Selected in 1994, Anderson was a lieutenant colonel in the US Air Force and served as payload commander on the STS-107 mission.

US Navy Captain David Brown, 46.
was a naval aviator and flight surgeon on his first space flight, seven years after being selected as an astronaut.

Indian-born Kalpana Chawla, 42.
was a flight instructor who studied aeronautical engineering at Punjab Engineering College, India. With more than 376 hours already logged in space since her 1994 selection, Chawla was also the most experienced astronaut on the mission.

Laurel Clark, 41.
was a US Navy commander and naval flight surgeon selected by NASA in 1996. A zoology graduate as well as a doctor of medicine, Clark was on her first space flight.

Rest in Peace.

Croc.

I just saw this thread and turned on CNN.

My all the astronauts rest in peace.

Ken or someone in the apropriate possition archive this alongside the WTC thread? I feel it is worthy.

Originally posted by agentbeast
Ken or someone in the apropriate possition archive this alongside the WTC thread? I feel it is worthy.

I agree...

Before it is archived tho, I want to add this poem that I posted in the tribute thread:

HIGH FLIGHT

by

John Gillespie Magee, Jr.


Oh, I have slipped the surly bounds of earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

Of sun-split clouds - and done a thousand things

You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hovering there,

I've chased the shouting wind along , and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air.

Up, up the long delirious, burning blue

I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace

Where never lark or even eagle flew.

And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

Originally posted by agentbeast

A mission badge.

Originally posted by Joint Chiefs Of Staff
A mission badge.

Yep

I thought that this image was kind of touching.

Our news reported they found all 7,they wont say where or how but they found em..

Originally posted by Needlefreak
Our news reported they found all 7,they wont say where or how but they found em..

NBC News said they found them in the woods outside of Noogadoches(sp?), Texas. In a large piece of the crew cabin. They also showed a helmet from one of the atronauts. Obviously nothing was in it and the glass was gone, it was a real erie sight. It is good that they found some remains for the families this way they will be able to have some closure.

Did they actually show pictures of that on TV?

Not necessary if you ask me.

Originally posted by Norm


Not necessary if you ask me.

Agreed totally not necessary.

Originally posted by Needlefreak
Our news reported they found all 7,they wont say where or how but they found em..

NASA has since retracted that statement with the clarification that they have found partial remains of several of tha astronauts. It was a misstatement they said.

I really think that we need to be able to dock with the ISS in case of an emergency.

all the NASA experts keep touting that nothing could have been done even if they found the damaged tiles.

Well...if we had the ability and if the ISS was outfitted to accept 7 additional souls, then all they would have to do is stay in orbit and dock with the ISS. then we send a rescue mission to either get the crew back or send a fixit team......dunno...but I do value the astronauts lives more than the shuttle itself.

The costs would be outrageous but I could live with a higher taxbill.

I think all missions should have a backup crew waiting on the ground should such an emergency arise.

Originally posted by UOD


I think all missions should have a backup crew waiting on the ground should such an emergency arise.

I agree.

Aircraft carriers have aircraft on standby ready on deck.

The only thing that comes to mind is the cost to have another shuttle fitted and an already trained crew standing by.

Originally posted by Joint Chiefs Of Staff
I agree.

Aircraft carriers have aircraft on standby ready on deck.

The only thing that comes to mind is the cost to have another shuttle fitted and an already trained crew standing by.

Yup.

I think what we'll see in the coming weeks and months is that we have been living with a certain amount of risk. I can't ascertain whether the risk was acceptable or not. That risk just swam up and bit us on the ass and we lost 7 people as a result.

Still...we must press on. We must find solutions and we need to get back in the saddle ASAP.

Originally posted by UOD
Yup.

I think what we'll see in the coming weeks and months is that we have been living with a certain amount of risk. I can't ascertain whether the risk was acceptable or not. That risk just swam up and bit us on the ass and we lost 7 people as a result.

Still...we must press on. We must find solutions and we need to get back in the saddle ASAP.

If I'm not mistaken I thought the shuttles were fitted with detachable cabins in case of catastrophic events such as this. Something I thought was implemented since the Challenge explosion.

Originally posted by Joint Chiefs Of Staff
If I'm not mistaken I thought the shuttles were fitted with detachable cabins in case of catastrophic events such as this. Something I thought was implemented since the Challenge explosion.

I'll have to consult T.O. 00-105E-9 and double check...it's been awhile.

Originally posted by UOD
I'll have to consult T.O. 00-105E-9 and double check...it's been awhile.

Air Force manual?

Originally posted by Joint Chiefs Of Staff
Air Force manual?

here

Originally posted by UOD
here

I was on the right path. Were do I start. lol