The World Mourns - Your Thoughts on the Space Shuttle Columbia Tragedy

Back to Columbia Special

Your comments so far:

How easily it is for us to forget that each and everytime a shuttle goes up and comes down, that the astronaults are putting their lives online for the better meant of mankind. It is really a shame that it takes a tragedy like this to remind us of this fact.

God speed to the crew of Columbia, may your spirits fly even higher!!! God bless the families and friends during this time of great mourning.

Shuttle Columbia was the first shuttle that my daughter, my fiance, and myself had watched together and for me it was the first. Seeing the lift off was beautiful and unforgetable. Of course I never thought we would not get to see it return. Out thoughts and prayers go out to the familiy, friends and the whole nation. Hopefully people will realize how precious life is and not to take it for granted.

I watched in disbelief Saturday morning as the news portrayed the disaster. My heart goes out to the families of the astronauts - how proud they must be of their heroes! From the information I have been able to glean about the seven crew members thus far, we were lucky human beings to have them conducting research that may have made our future better.

My heart and prayers go out to the family and friends of the crew. These 7 men and women gave their lives to a cause they truly loved. My prayer is for peace to the families hearts in knowing their loved did not die in vain. We must keep space travel alive for them. May God be with all of you in your time of mourning.

My thoughts and Prayers are with the Crew and family of the Colombia. They were brave sole's who took on such great risk for the better of man-kind. God Bless you all.

I am still in shock over the loss of our 7 brave men and women aboard the space shuttle "Columbia". This tragedy has touched me deeply and I feel for the families as I have lost my daughter Colleen on September 11th. God Bless you and I HOPE our Country will learn from this horrible tragedy to make future flights of our space shuttle safer.

We are so very sorry for you and your families. This really, really hurts deep down inside. It is hard to grasp what you all must be going through. Once again our country is brought together by a tragedy. If only there were words to say to aide in your healing. I realize that I dont speak very well, but please accept my familes sympathies and this small quote from Mahatma Gandhi, "When I don't understand something, I reach up, take God's hand and together we walk in silence." May God bless and keep each and every one of you in the palm of his hand.

Like all, I'm sure you remember exactly where you were when the Challenger was lost in l986. Once again another moment in time is forever etched for us all when we lost the Columbia Shuttle. I as a Canadian can only wonder at the strength of the American spirit. How much is one country expected to endure. THe Challenger, the horrific events of 9/ll and now the tragic loss of the Columbia. My heart goes out to all our American Neighbors once again. You should all be proud of your vision to help make this world a better place for all mankind. You have sacrified enough and for all those who have a negative opion Of the US - sit back, think of what the USA gives of its self and how strong they are to continue in the face of adversity! My sincerest and deepest respect for you all at this time!

"Space flight is a passion".- Ron Ditemore

Roci Stone

I woke up on saturday morning and had no idea wut was even going to take place....as soon as the broadcast came on, all i thought was, "oh my gosh, its 911 all over again." just w/less ppl involved. all i want to say to the families is that, u'r loved ones were doing an amazing thing and they new the risks and yet they went up anyway. this is a national tragedy and all of america mourns for u'r losses. God Bless you all.

My thoughts and prayers are with the astronauts and their families. I do believe, as Don Nelson, formerly of NASA, does, that an escape module for astronauts aboard the shuttle should be utilized during crucial times of the flight.

I am very sorry for what happened. I hope you know that I am praying for you. Even though these important lives were lost, we will still try to figure out all of the questions America has asked. This tragedy is sad for everyone.

I`m sorry for what happened to the astronaut tragedy.

NASA~

I feel real bad for this hard thing that all of you have gone threw. May God bless you all and give you lots of faith . They were real brave and did all that work and went to space for you.Good luck with all your work.

I am terribly sorry for your loss. Please know that our thoughts are with you and your family. The astronauts were very brave. We will never forget them!

"To the stars through adversity." It's been one of my favorite little Latin phrases for a long time. Not only does it include the fact that getting to the stars is a perilous undertaking, but it also holds the light of hope that travel beyond our atmosphere is more than possible if we only try.

This was a human tragedy, but it was a tragedy that served a purpose. The destruction of Columbia was a wake-up call to all of us to look to the sky, to understand that exploration is a dangerous business, to never again take the space program for granted.

I'm reminded of an idea about "that place where good and noble ships journey through eternity" when I think of Columbia and Challenger together. It's a hopeful notion, a reminder that while space travel is dangerous, we still have the courage and the determination to keep these sacrifices from ever being in vain.

There's another phrase, actually a paraphrase, from a number of astronauts who participated in the Apollo program. "Strike the word 'impossible' from your vocabulary."

A Meditation Upon Isaiah 40.26

Who created all these?
When we think about ourselves in this way we wonder where did we come from? . Where did all of this come from? . What was the beginning? . Who was the beginning?

God who brings out the starry hosts one by one and calls them each by name.
God Creator intimately involved with Creation.
God Creator knows each part of Creation in its individuality and calls each by Name.
God Creator who also is our Redeemer so that nothing is lost.

Because of God's great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
God Redeemer the One who made us the One who Remembers us.
God Rememberer the One who is eternal remembers forever.
God Eternal One gathers us unto God.s Self and keeps us in the Holy Presence forever.

Seven of God's Creation rode a pillar of fire into the darkness of space.
Seven of God's Creation played among the stars and reviled in God.s amazing playground.
Seven of God's Creation turned to what they had always known as home.
Seven of God's Creation left a vapor trail across the sky when they became light and energy in another form and returned to Home where they are Remembered . Eternal among the stars . leaving tears in our eyes . aching in our hearts . and seven new reasons to lift up our eyes and look to the heavens.

May we, the still earth-bound, continue to look to the heavens.
May we look to the heavens and see our Creator our Redeemer our Rememberer our destination when we became light and energy in another form and returned to Home where they are forever.

Until that time we will remember the Seven and the God who created them and us. Amen

Wes Morgan
Pastor
First Christian Church
Conroe, TX

I would like to express my deepest sympathies to the families of the intrepid crew of the Shuttle Columbia. This crew gave their lives to serve the world by working in a career I some day hope to be in myself. I would like to let the family of Kalpana Chawla know that she has become a hero to me overnight. Currently, I am in school to study to become an aerospace engineer in hopes of becoming an astronaut. I have found myself questioning whether this is the degree that would best serve me in that pursuit. Kalpana Chawla has reaffirmed my belief in continuing in this field to achieve my dreams. Thank you so much Kalpana.