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

Back to Columbia Special

Your comments so far:

Back in April of 1981 I saw the Columbia race to space for the first flight from an adoption agency in central Florida. It was the only bright spot I have of those gray days.

I was in math class when I learned of the ill fated challanger (6th grade if my memorie serves me right) but it did not seem real untill I saw the footage latter that night...

WE all suffered on 9-11-02,but this was a harder hit than that was for me. NYC and the Pentagon are much closer on the map but Nasa is closer to my soul. It is humanity at its best.

New York was known for telling you to drop dead & the military allways know the risk. THE COLUMBIA was proven safe by its repeted flights over the 22 years it graced the cape.

This time I was on the way home from my job as a security officer. I heard the aweful words about 20 mineuts after the expected landing. I knewwithout a doubt the Columbia ( the orbiter I held nearest and dearest to my heart was gone ) even befor i saw the dramatic fotage of its desintigration over texas. Though I live in PA now, this tragedy hit me harder than the challanger did in 1986.

I am sooo sad about the loss of Columbia and the brave Astronauts aboard. I am a retired aerospace engineer and totally suportive of the ISS and all other space programs. I pray that, inspite of this tragedy,you will continue to forge ahead, especially with the ISS.

Goodbye, Columbia

For 16 days the crew of seven
Unnoticed, got a glimpse of heaven
While floating high above the earth
Performing tasks with joy and mirth
With Rick D. Husband in command
Of Columbia's faithful band

Laurel Clark loved life, her choice
There was a smile in her voice
Fearless pilot William McCool
Was calm and steady as a rule
Flying doctor David Brown
Looked up to the stars, spellbound

Kalpana Chawla watched sunrise
The Earth reflected in her eyes
>From Israel, Ilan Ramon
Hoped for quiet to spread home
Michael Anderson was planning
To go on higher, if not landing

Calamity had been foretold
Columbia was getting old
Fatigue, a mishap or mistake
Might cause a vital part to break
They knew the risks that they would face
In doing science up in space

All shuttles must at last descend
When mission time comes to an end
With weightless work and play behind
Each took the seat they were assigned
They rolled to entry interface
And started flying down from space

A strangely silent instrument
Then more - a problem evident
How serious they could not tell
Encased within a fragile shell
Now powerless in final glide
A hurtling meteoric ride

Perhaps they did not hear the crack
Of doom that took the world aback
When 13 K at 40 miles
Was too much for the damaged tiles
Unconscious as their spacecraft broke
In multiplying trails of smoke

Their plight was writ for all to spy
Emblazoned clear across the sky
Could God with his all-seeing eyes
Have missed it, and a million cries
Of horror as we watched the streams
Of burning hopes and shattered dreams?

God, wrap your loving hands around
Their ship and guide it to the ground
Or send your angels, row on row
To lift them, lest they stub a toe
Please guard them, grant them saving grace
And bring them safely home from space

Unmoved by prayers for safe return
God let the valiant seven burn
Their pain would serve a greater cause
Than science data and applause
In life, a few would know their story
In death they gain eternal glory

A mourning nation now must strive
To keep their hallowed dream alive
We cannot let the world forget
That all mankind is in their debt
Until the day it's commonplace
To reach the stars in outer space

Terry Rodgers

"...Come my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world. Push off, and sitting well in order smite The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths Of all the western stars, until I die. It may be that the gulfs will wash us down; It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles, And see the great Achilles, whom we knew. Though much is taken, much abides; and though We are not now that strength which in old days Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are-- One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."

~ Alfred, Lord Tennyson, "Ulysses"

I send my prayers and deepest thoughts of sympathy to the families of the seven astronauts lost in the Columbia tragedy. I am grateful that our country has such brave souls, willing to go into space and explore the vast unknown.

May God be with all the astronauts and their families in the days ahead.

May America never forget the Columbia tragedy.

I remember many times as a child gazing into the skies to see a shuttle that had been launched, thinking wow! I was totaly amzed. Yet now I am grown and still gaze into the skies, each time a shuttle launches. I was at work when the columbia lifted off and got the chance to see it soar towards the stars. the planes accompying them.

The thought never crossed my mind we would loose the crew aboard. But I truely believe that the crew would want the shuttles to fly on into space, and take up where they left off. Everything in life has hazzards to it, and every day somewhere risk are taken. I truly believe we can learn a lot in space. Yet leaving things behind there may prove hazzardess in the long run. I think find out what we need to know and not leave debris behind, as it could cause problems in the future, with things floating round in space not knowing for certain where they shall land. I have written a poem in the columbia crews honer and will share it if ask. many have read it and shown deep emotion. well i have said what i think, continue on in the name of those lost to this great tragedy, and make them proud!

I believe Kalpana Chawla said it all.... I am not sure of the exact quote... but while she was in orbit on Columbia she mentioned looking up ABOVE the Earth.... seeing the stars .... and commenting how we are "citizens of the solar system".

In the past 40 years or so WE have gone to reconnoiter the solar system.... we can somewhat imagine what it would be like to walk the rusty dunes of Mars or fly the hydrogen skies of Jupiter..

Something we could not have done without NASA.

When Columbia launched, I was watching from a video feed at the NASA Glenn Research Center... I work there as a contractor DBA administering HR and Funding databases. I make it a point to watch the launches with colleagues.... but not the reentries and landings ... I will be watching those ion the future....

When Columbia launched, so many tons of aluminum, ceramic, and silicon chips, brain, muscle and bone; acheived Earth orbit. All those atoms that made all those molecules were forged in solar furnaces which let loose to the skies their nuclear harvest. Some 4.5 billion years ago, that harvest found new seeding in the birth of our solar system and in the lives of that crew.

Columbia and her crew were not going into "outer space", they were really returning home.

We truly are "citizens of the solar system". We are trying to come home to the Worldtree that is the Universe.

Kalpana understood that... and she knew the risks.

And we will go on.

It is my thought that we should continue space travel.So people give there lives in space. That was a risk that they wanted to take. They touched god with there finger tips, and they are now blessed by him.

They went into space for the world.Not just for themselves. They died with honor, with dignity, and with pride. They were not trying to die, it just happens. Yes, there should be sorrow but don't think about saying that we shouldn't go back in space. They all were good people. They should all recieve metals of honor for there lives.

You go and write your congress men a letter,or try to help raise money for NASA's next big exploration. It will be worth it.

Dear members of those who died, I am Holly Mead, and I am in the fourth grade. I am sorry people died in your families.

A holiday poem from years ago, but that message of striving and hope has now even more poignant meaning.

Starlight

The one that guided Them
Over the land;
I want to reach up now
And touch it with my hand.

I couldn't find it
But I know it's there
And I know we will go there--
One day, if we dare.

Barb

I have now lived through two of the most frightening and tragic disasters of the 21st century. I was listening to the radio in my kitchen when I first heard the news that something terrible had happened in the skies of Texas. I was also at home in NEW YORK when people were killed on September 11th. Eerie similarities just hit me over the head when I think of these two tragedies, but I need not go into them here. We all more or less know what they are.

I can only tell those of you who read this that though I was fortunate enough not to lose anyone I cared about in either disaster, I DID lose a little of myself somehow with both events. Hard to explain really. It's almost like a cavity...it doesn't hurt at first until you really think about it.

Where's my Novacane?

My thoughts go out to all those who lost something or someone in either case.

I HAD TURNED ON THE TV TO WATCH THE CHALLENGER LAND. ALL OF THE SUDDEN THEY LOST COMMUNICATIONS. I SAW SOMETHING LIKE AN EXPLOSION. I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. IT WAS A MALFUNCTION. MY THOUGHTS WERE ON FAMILY AND FRIENDS. AND WHAT HAPPENED IN 1986. MY TEARS WERE COMING DOWN. I SAID NOT AGAIN. MY FIANCE WAS ON DRILL IN THE MILITARY HES WITH NATIONAL GUARD. HE ALSO WAS WATCHING. TODAY WE POST NOTES HERE TO SAY HOW TERRIBLE THIS WAS, TOMORROW WE WILL STILL POST NOTES. IN OUR HEARTS YOU WILL FOREVER BE FORGOTTEN. THOSE ASTRONAUNTS WERE SPECIAL PEOPLE THEY WERE HAPPY TO UP SPACE. THEY DIDNT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. EVERYONE IN THE UNITED STATES WERE PROUD FOR A JOB WELL DONE. THEY WERE SPECIAL PEOPLE THAT WILL BE MISSED IN OUR HEARTS. WE ARE ALL HUMAN AND WE ALL HAVE FEELINGS AND REACTIONS TO WHAT HAS HAPPENED. IN TIME WE WILL COME TOGETHER AND EXPRESS HOW WE FELT THAT DAY, WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER ALL OF YOU AND YOUR SMILES AS YOU WERE WALKING TO GET ONTO THE SHUTTLE FOR YOUR MISSION. MAY GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERYONE THAT HAD LOVE ONES IN THE SPACE SHUTTLE THAT WAS TAKEN FROM YOU. HOPE YOU WILL SOON BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHY GOD TOOK THEM. LOTS OF PEOPLE DONT KNOW THE HURT OF LOSING A LOVE ONE. I AM THINKING FOR THEIR FAMILIES WERE HAPPY FOR THEM. THIS IS A TRAGEADY THAT NO ONE WILL FORGET. ESPECIALLY THOSE IN TEXAS WHO SAW IT BREAK APART. THEY NEED STRENGTH FROM GOD AND THE SPIRIT. THEY ARE GOING THROUGH ALOT SEEING MANY PIECES IN DIFFERENT PLACES AND AREAS. I WILL PRAY FOR THE ASTRONAUNTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, MAY GOD BLESS THEM ALL. MAY THE ASTRONAUNTS REST IN PEACE.

I sang a song to the Challenger Crew on local radio and TV in the St.Petersburg area. I sent a copy to the White House and received a thank you note from President Reagan's secretary. I dedicate this to the Crew of Columbia.

We remember the Columbia Crew
At their best and finest
They were taken home for a reason.
Our human understanding cannot know why.
Only the Will of the Most High does.

God bless each one of you as we all make the journey home.
Steven

Hi, The French have a saying that goes something like ...paraphrasing ... the nail that stands up calls for the hammer. Well I'm sorry for any loss of life ...friend or enemy. God bless the Columbia seven ...truly let their souls find peace.

Now to my comment....I had hoped, foolishly in retrospection, that this time the search for the true origin of the disaster would let the chips fly where they may.

No such luck I guess. Lets all look for a way to find ourselves blameless. Let's not have co-workers, make it family instead. Don't apologise for the fragments invading house and home. Threaten the citizens with bodily harm, fines, and/or imprisonment if they touch, conceal, or hide a piece of the shuttle. In Calif even photographs were not permitted. Doesn't sound open to me. The was a time when I considered myself a NASA supporter...I still am (taxes) but now it is against my will. Shut it down. Shut it down. Shut it down!