Another Sad Day -- shuttle Columbia breaks up

[CJ Swartz]

Shuttle breaks up
The space shuttle Columbia broke up this morning as it descended over central Texas Saturday toward a planned landing at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The space shuttle was carrying a crew of seven.

They were almost home...



CNN Developing story

Astronauts

[KevinBE]

It is really sad. I feel for their families. It's really amazing though that there have been so many shuttle flights with very few problems. I guess the crew of the space station wont get any visitors for a while.

[pjb]

This is a very sad day. Let's all remember the families and keep them in our prayers and heart.

[dcarr]

I watched the Challenger, with my sixth graders, in 86. I never thought such a thing could have happened. Today brings it all back in spades.
May their souls rest in peace, welcomed by the Challenger 7.
Debbie

[Trimoon]

When the Challenger disaster happened, my daughter (not quite 2) and I had traveled up from Miami (as we did many times) to watch the shuttle launch. We had a pretty good record -- we had never been skunked (the launches had always gone off as planned). I played hookey and we went to the main gate at the Kennedy Space Center. We had a spot we had always picked out. I watched (with my daugher on my shoulders) as Challenger disintegrated while I cried (along with eveyone else). We were all devastated. It's a magnificent thing to watch (day or night). I took my father and mother up for a night watch one evening, not telling them where we were going. I thought it would be a nice surprise. He eventually demanded to know where we were going and I told him. He said that he had no desire to see such a thing, but we went on anyway. He told me that he had seen the first automobiles and the first airplane flights when he was very young. He had seen jets fly and had even seen the rockets launch on television for the moon missions. He said that one of the most memorable things that he had ever seen in his entire life was the launching of that shuttle that night. For months after, that was all he could talk about. He was absolutely amazed. When you look out across the water and see that rocket taking off and see the shock wave travel across the water and hit you in the face, it is an awesome sight and feeling. Today when Columbia was destroyed, I could not believe it was happening again. We live an hour from the space center and we can sit in our yard and watch the launch. I just don't think I'll be able to do it again. This is truly a sad day -- not just for the US or Israel -- but for the world, because it is space that is our future. As we outgrow this small blue marble, we will need to grow outward. May God be with the families of the crew. Steve

[Ed_L]

Sad days like this are the ones that are the most memorable. When you think of all the launches there were that went well, you know the program is a success. But when something of this magnitude happens, it's horrifying. Our hearts go out to the loved ones left behind.

Ed

[dcarr]

Beautiful Chuck.
Debbie

[d_kendal]

that's extremely sad news to hear today! very nice and fitting tribute chuck. I feel for all of the families of the astronauts.

- David

[Sanda]

You don't have to be an American to feel the tragedy, the loss of these brave people makes it a sad day for the whole world. my deepest sympathies to you all.

[dcarr]

As an American, I know we all feel the loss and appreciate all the kind words from around the world. But let's also remember the first Israeli astronaut, Ilan Ramon and Kalpana Chawla, who immigrated from one of India's poorest villages. The world has lost our best and brightest.
Debbie

[paulette conlan]

Life is so strange. Here we all are anxiously waiting for Powell's speech at the UN this Wednesday and its ramifications and then we have this tragedy today. My heart goes out to their loved ones.

This morning will be another one of those times in your live when you recall exactly where you were and what you were doing when you heard the news.

This is such a reminder that we have to make every day count and never take anything for granted. The past is gone,the future has not arrived-all we really have is the present moment.

Paulette

[Steve Taylor]

It was a very strange feeling driving down the highway today and seeing a sign that read

"Call Police To Report Space Shuttle Debris"


I think President Reagan said it best back in 86

"We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, as they prepared for the journey and waved goodbye and 'slipped the surly bonds of earth' to 'touch the face of God.'

[DJ Dubovsky]

I've heard it said that the Earth looks so peaceful when viewed from the window of the shuttle. It isn't until you break through the atmosphere that you see it's divided into areas of great turmoil. Maybe that's why we keep venturing into space. Maybe it gives us a better perspective on our Earth and what we're doing to it. I wish more people could see the Earth the way the astronauts do. It might change the way we see things when we return home.

God be with thier families during this terrible time of loss.
DJ

[CJ Swartz]

17 years ago, when we lost the Challenger space shuttle and the bright young astronauts aboard her, then-President Reagan turned to this poem when looking for words with which to comfort us.

It is time once again...

"High Flight"

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds 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 hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring 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 wind-swept 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.

John Gillespie Magee, Jr.
1922-1944

They left their families and loved ones far too soon.

[chiquitita]

It is very difficult on the NASA employees. My father works there and he raves constantly about what a great and bright group of people his coworkers are. They are so meticulous about every last detail, and feel such a tremendous responsibility, that it is just devastating to them, as you could probably see in the various news confrences. NASA is very much a family.