Space Shuttle Columbia: In Memoriam

It was a routine, 16-day mission that had been a great success. Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Columbia, flight STS-107, had performed some 80 scientific experiments and were looking forward to a return to Earth. Just minutes before landing, however, traveling at a speed of 12,500 mph at a height of 200,000 feet, Columbia broke apart above the Texas landscape, spreading debris across a wide area and snuffing out the life of seven brilliant and brave heroes who worked to break down the barrier of outer space.

The early morning news that we all woke up to was another in a string of moving and terrible events that have touched the world over the past two years. Understandably, immediate thoughts turned to the possibility of terrorist involvement in this tragedy. It quickly became clear, however, that this was simply an unfortunate accident in a very risky business that most of us have come to view as routine. NASA officials reminded us in the news conference that followed that, although we have been in the business of space flight for more than 40 years, it is still a serious and risky endeavor.

Most of us who are around 30 years of age or older probably remember exactly where we were on January 28, 1986, when the space shuttle Challenger exploded just over a minute after launch. It was a moment that stopped us all in our tracks, and this morning brought memories of that terrible day rushing back. Shock certainly describes my reaction, followed by flashbacks.

When Challenger exploded it brought the American space program to a halt. Scientists and engineers scrutinized the situation and worked diligently to make sure that the cause was corrected. It was nearly three years before shuttle flights resumed. That was 17 years ago. The world today is very different. The shuttle's primary function in 2003 is to assist in the construction of the International Space Station. We now have humans in space on a permanent basis, people who rely on the shuttle to provide transportation and supplies. Though many will call for the fleet to be grounded once again, we may not have the luxury of a three-year layoff this time around.

Before looking at what the loss of Columbia could mean to our future in space, let's stop to remember those who we lost.

Rick Husband, 45, was commander of the mission and an Air Force colonel who dreamed of being an astronaut from childhood. He was from

The copyright of the article Space Shuttle Columbia: In Memoriam in Science Fiction & Society is owned by Christopher B. Jones. Permission to republish Space Shuttle Columbia: In Memoriam in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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