Rick Husband
William McCool
Michael Anderson
David Brown
Kalpana Chawla
Laurel Clark
Ilan Ramon were killed on February 1, 2003.
Three years ago today, as the shuttle Columbia was nearing re-entry, I stood in my yard waiting for the familiar sonic boom that we Floridians are treated to as it flies over us on its way to Cape Canaveral.
...but Columbia never made it home.
4 comments:
RIP Columbia Crew.
It's sad that the Columbia tragedy gets less attention than that of the Challenger. In some ways Columbia's end is even more tragic.
We were buying groceries when this happened. Couldn't believe it.
Still can't.
Also can't believe that the entire shuttle program hasn't been scrapped. It just don't work.
(*)>
The shuttles worked well in their prime. Technology wise, they're ancient now, and I agree that a new vehicle is needed for the future.
That doesn't alter the fact that Columbia blew up because a piece of foam flew off during lift off and tore a chunk out of the 'skin' of the wing. Environmental groups pressured NASA into replacing the perfectly adequate 'old' foam with
the 'new environmentally friendly', but totally inadequate foam.
This is what happens when scientists listen to non-scientists.
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