CNN -- Space Shuttle Columbia Lost

CNN is reporting that the space shuttle Columbia has broken up over Texas at 200,000 feet. They don't suspect terrorism. Seven crew members were on board.

[bruschifan1]

Very Sad news.... My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the crew.

Originally posted by bruschifan1
Very Sad news.... My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the crew.

I can still remember exactly where I was 17 years ago when I found out about the crash of the Challenger. I was a freshman in college, going to eat lunch in the cafeteria and the news was on a TV. Everyone was fixated on the screen and no one was talking. I just walked up to the set and started watching without saying a word. The first innocence lost in some ways in the pre-September 11 days.

Somehow, after 9-11, there is something different this time around. It is no less tragic, it is just my response to the tragedy that has changed.

They are saying that it happened during the week of the 17th anniversary of the crash of the Challenger. How is that even possible?

[freak]

I remember watching the Challenger explosion live.

I was in like the 2nd or 3rd grade, and they had the entire school in the library to watch the launch.

Even after it exploded, we were kept there watching that cloud of smoke. I still remember the commentators talking about all the reports of parachutes, and that maybe some of the crew had got off. In fact, those chutes were the solid rocket boosters which had separated cleanly.

And it hit home in NH, what with Christa McAuliffe as part of that crew.

This is a sad day. God bless them and their families.

[PatsButterfly]

I can't believe it...I don't remember Challenger ( I was only 6 or 7) but this is probably the second worse crash I remember ( 9/11 being the worst), I am glued to the TV next to me and CNN.com. WOW, I don't have any more words to express how i feel...:confused:

[freak]

Originally posted by NoRespect
They are saying that it happened during the week of the 17th anniversary of the crash of the Challenger. How is that even possible?

Notice that all three space tragedies have come around this time of the year?

The Apollo spacecraft fire occurred on January 27.

The Challenger exploded on January 28.

Now this, on February 1.

[bideau]

When the Challenger exploded, I was in a meeting at work. Everyone in the office gathered around a television stunnded. This morning, I turned on the radio and heard a NASA transmission and thought I was hearing a replay of the Challenger, since it was just a few days after the anniversary. Very tragic and sad.

BTW, the Challenger accident happened just two days after Super Bowl XX. At the time, it put football and the Patriots in perspective.

[pookie]

I saw the vapor trail left by the burning up of the shuttle on re-entry, but not the shuttle itself breaking up.... I didn't get outside in time. It's very strange to be this close to this type of disaster. There is unconfirmed apartment fire with a gaping hole in the roof just south of here in Plano, TX...... but that has not been confirmed as shuttle debris. They are finding some of the larger pieces about 40-70 miles SE of Dallas. All of the hillbillies are coming out of their trailers in east Texas with made up crap just to get their toothless mugs on local TV.

Last year they paid tribute to the Challenger accident at the date and time of the original launch with another launch of the shuttle Columbia. Here's a link to the story about it that now seems a tragic premonition of things to come:

"Flags around NASA’s central Florida spaceport were flying at half staff, and both NASA and contractor workers observed a voluntarily moment of silence to honor the Challenger astronauts, who were killed after the shuttle exploded 73.6 seconds into the ill-fated flight.

"Everybody who was here at the time remembers – there’s no question about that," said Jack King, a spokesman for NASA’s prime shuttle contractor, United Space Alliance. "And many of them remember every time we launch – to make sure it never happens again."

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/sts109_update_020128.html

[Hawg73]

Very eerie. That picture hit home.

.

[Peg]

I heard about today's disaster this morning, on my way to work... So sad... My heart goes out to all of the loved ones of the crew...
My thoughts also went to those in the D/FW area... So, I was glad to see that Pookie was alive and well and posting here today... Take care & give a hug or a call to those that you care about... :)

[PatsButterfly]

My fellow Americans, this day has brought terrible news and great sadness to our country. At 9 o'clock this morning, Mission Control in Houston lost contact with our space shuttle Columbia. A short time later, debris was seen falling from the skies above Texas.

The Columbia's lost. There are no survivors.

Onboard was a crew of seven -- Colonel Rick Husband, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Anderson, Commander Laurel Clark, Captain David Brown, Commander William McCool, Dr. Kalpana Chawla, and Ilan Ramon a colonel in the Israeli air force.

These men and women assumed great risk in this service to all humanity. In an age when space flight has come to seem almost routine, it is easy to overlook the dangers of travel by rocket and the difficulties of navigating the fierce outer atmosphere of the earth.

These astronauts knew the dangers, and they faced them willingly, knowing they had a high and noble purpose in life. Because of their courage and daring and idealism, we will miss them all the more.

All Americans today are thinking, as well, of the families of these men and women who have been given this sudden shock and grief. You're not alone. Our entire nation grieves with you. And those you loved will always have the respect and gratitude of this country.

The cause in which they died will continue. Mankind is led into the darkness beyond our world by the inspiration of discovery and the longing to understand. Our journey into space will go on.

In the skies today, we saw destruction and tragedy. Yet farther than we can see, there is comfort and hope.

In the words of the prophet Isaiah, "Lift your eyes and look to the heavens. Who created all these? He who brings out the starry hosts one by one and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing."

The same creator who names the stars also knows the names of the seven souls we mourn today. The crew of the shuttle Columbia did not return safely to Earth, yet we can pray that all are safely home.

May God bless the grieving families, and may God continue to bless America.

[PatsLawFirm]

I was watching the coverage on CNN as well this morning..very sad day. Almost always an unreal feeling, somewhat like 9/11. How could this possibly happen sort of a thing....just amazing....

[bruschifan1]

What a sad day for the families of the astronauts. I remember watching the Challenger explosion at work in 86... a couple of months before my wedding. I was almost 22 then and it was one of the most tragic events that I personally remember watching during my lifetime (that I was actually old enough to comprehend.)

Just thinking about today's tragedy brings me back to 911 and thinking about how my own children have already seen much greater devastation at their young ages than I did.....

Very sad... and it's got to be freaky for the people in TX to have debris falling on their homes.

Reminder to all to live each day to the fullest.

Karen

I just read a report that as early as few hours after the crash of Columbia people were trying to sell pieces of shuttle debris on eBay. It really makes me wonder where this world is headed when at a time of tragedy anyone would be exhibit such unconscionable behavior either as a joke or otherwise.

They really need to bring back public flogging. I don't think the current systems of deterrent are working. And then after the flogging the government sells your house, car and belongings on eBay. Seems fair to me. Anyone have any objections?

[Peg]

NR--Yeah, I agree with the idea of bringing back public flogging for such things... I am just surprised that you feel that way... You are quite the paradox when it comes to things political... I guess that is the prerogative of liberals, though...

Originally posted by Peg
NR--Yeah, I agree with the idea of bringing back public flogging for such things... I am just surprised that you feel that way... You are quite the paradox when it comes to things political... I guess that is the prerogative of liberals, though...

First a comment like that belongs in the political thread. Second what makes you think I am a liberal? Third, what makes you think either party has a monopoly on justice? Justice is antithetically non-political.

I would also be in favor of turning the individuals over to the families of the victims of the Columbia accident for the final dispensation.