Flutterby™! : Columbia gone

Columbia gone

2003-02-01 18:15:16+00 by Dan Lyke 6 comments

Space Shuttle Columbia shatters on re-entry; crew presumed dead.

[ related topics: Space & Astronomy Current Events ]

comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):

#Comment made: 2003-02-01 20:55:39+00 by: anser

our thoughts are with the families of the crew.

and also here:

http://spaceflightnow.com/shut...0201columbia/launchincident.html

#Comment made: 2003-02-01 21:02:50+00 by: meuon

The crew of the Columbia.and NASA have made ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of science and humanity. Thank You.

#Comment made: 2003-02-01 21:04:16+00 by: ebradway [edit history]

Interestingly, my first reaction to the disaster was to think of the impact this will have on space science. After the Challenger Disaster in '86, space science was all but halted in the US for half a decade. In fact, the Hubble Telescope was scheduled to go up on the next shuttle after the Challenger and ended up on the group for about seven years. We lost seven years of potentially ground-breaking imagery and data. I allowed myself this reaction because I know that dying in a big ball of fire is just part of the job-description for astronauts.

But after looking at the photos of the crew, I lost the ability to disassociate humanity from the event. Especially when I saw the incredible diversity of the crew. It really makes me proud to be in a country that recognizes that people of such diverse backgrounds can all contribute positively to such extreme scientific and engineering tasks. And it saddens me deeply to know that we lost these incredibly capable human beings.

#Comment made: 2003-02-01 21:07:21+00 by: Dan Lyke

I think this is a genuine NASA image, so I believe we're okay on copyright. So it's now mirrored at Flutterby.

#Comment made: 2003-02-01 21:16:45+00 by: ebradway

Thanks Dan. I took the picture out of my posting.

#Comment made: 2003-02-04 17:52:16+00 by: TC

I was up in the sierra over the weekend to play in the snow with the family. Even though there TV,Radio and newspapers are there, I avoid them as a function of being on vacation. I didn't want to see another suicide bomber etc etc for a few days. I haven't felt this way since Douglas Adams suddenly died. I grieve for those that lost their lives, the NASA family and the shuttle Columbia it's self. Most of all I grieve for us as species. Who knows how far back this will set us as the NAY-sayers exploit this to do less when we should do more to further ourselves.......long sigh........