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Space Shuttle Columbia

I believe the future of NASA is strong. Bush said in his speech to the nation that space flight will go on. As terrible as today's events are, I think it will enspire and encourage NASA to make some major changes. The current orbiters are very inefficient and a bit dated, using tons of fuel, and equipment and technologies from the 70's. Even though Columbia was recently renovated, it was still a pretty old spacecraft.

This incident might lead NASA to focus more on new technologies and spacecraft that are more efficient, and safer.

Space flight is dangerous. Astronauts know of the many dangers that they face, but they don't think about them. They focus on getting their jobs done. They are probably the bravest people known to mankind, strapping themselves to a rocket, and hurtling themselves into space at unimaginable speeds. The seven astronauts that died today died for a noble cause; the exploration of new frontiers and the unknown.
 
I can't believe this is happening. I'm in total shock over the whole situation.

What a terrible week for NASA. January 27 was the anniversary of the Apollo explosion that killed 3. Then the 28th was the anniversary of the Challenger explosion. Now this.

Being from Indiana, I wanted to remind people that Gus Grissom (one of the men killed in the Apollo explosion) was from Mitchell Indiana, about 1 hour from where I live. Last summer, some friends and I visited the Gus Grissom Memorial in Mitchell. This quote appears on the monument:

"The conquest of space is worth the risk of human life" - Gus Grissom

If you haven't seen the movie "The Right Stuff", I suggest you go out and rent it. You'll really learn a lot about the space race.

My prayers are with the families....
 
The shuttle technology is aging but we can't abandon it yet. Given the necessary funding, NASA could be developing the next generation of space transportation. But in the meantime we've got an ongoing program. Don't forget there are three astronauts in the space station. What a shock this disaster must have been for them.
 
A sad situation. How tragic for the families and their friends.

Some mentioned earlier about the robot arm being used to check out the damage. Unlike most missions, there was no robot arm on this mission.

I would love to see the space shuttle be retired and replaced by a cheaper, more advanced alternative. Given the current economic climate, however, I don't know that the money is there for it.
 
the money could be there. it's all a matter of priorities. i think a reinvigorated space program is a worthy cause.
 
The shuttles need to be replaced. In my opinion the Columbia should have been decomissioned in 1991. There is hope for funding since Bush has already signed over a healthy amount to NASA for the Prometheus project.

NASA is by no means dead.
 
Ugh, this isn't going to be good. I hope they find out what did happen, this is so tragic from what I was hearing before they were about to return. NASA in some book or report said that if they lost another shuttle that they would have to make another 1-2 shuttles or go with a new design. Simply the idea given was that if we ever got down to 2 shuttles that we couldn't keep the 2 remaining shuttles in running condition and do it as quick as their launch schedual would require- the 3 were already under a stressed schedual. This is a verry unsettling day......
 
A sad day, but let's hold fast to our dreams...

I believe we all feel about the same about this tragedy.

Perhaps today will be another day of mourning for most of us for the rest of our lives. But I believe we all understand that the commitment that these brave souls made to push the envelope needs to be honored and remembered. And we need to honor our own commitment to excellence and perseverence and to the dream of space travel.

There's a saying mentioned in the Bible which comes to mind. I don't mean to preach but these words help me in these times, so I'd like to share it with you. When Joshua first took up the mantle left by Moses, he is instructed by God: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

I think it's time to hold onto our convictions and to be strong in the face of adversity. I believe we deserve to do this, if for no other reason to be true to ourselves and to honor their memories.

The space program should not be cut back. It should not be hindered. Other nations are still developing their programs and we have been the leader thus far. Why falter? We need to press forward.

Take care, everyone.

:)
 
I am proud to see the support of people for the crew of Space Shuttle Columbia and our NASA Program.

Netscape Poll: Poll: In light of the tragedy, the space program should: Continue despite the risks. 86% Continue with only unmanned missions. 7% Be abandoned, it’s too dangerous. 6%
 
This is the 6th or 7th space flight disaster that resulted in death of the crew in my lifetime. Maybe this will galvanize the country and world to expand space flight.
My sympathies to the family and friends of the crew.
 
I was waking up at around 7:55 this morning when I heard repeatedly loud tremors - sounded like a truck without an exhaust. I thought to myself, great, the neighbor has decided to take out his truck. I was ticked off that he woke me up, although i had to decided to go to work. I went downstairs to pour some orange juice and turned on the TV for background noise when I saw the explosion on local TV being repeated (WFAA, NBC - Dallas). that's when it dawned on me - the noise was the shuttle. I sat there in disbelief. To say the least, my morning was ruined. Then they started showing the debris on the ground all around - Nacogdoches, Tyler, Palestine.

When I finally got on the road, the highway traffic bulletins read:

"To report space shuttle debris call police or NASA hotline."

It was surreal. And it's a beautiful day today in Texas, sunshine and 70 degrees. One apartments complex caught fire around 8:00 in Plano, north of Dallas, and now they are investigating whether that was caused by debris. I am speechless and numb.

Think whatever you wnat of Bush as a president, but you have to admit that he has seen more adversity happen to the USA under his presidency than any modern day president.

If I hear or see anything locally I will keep you guys posted. I am going to go take pictures of the road bulletins; I don't think I'll see anything like that again.

Images of fragments from Nacogdoches.
 
We've had these 3 tragedies that ended in death, but remember the Apollo XIII tragedy that ended in a tremendous success. Our Astronauts truly have, "The Right Stuff." I can't even imagine what the families our going through rigtht now, but I do know that the Lord is with them. "For he gives us no more than we can handle."
 
Originally posted by pyrotoaster
You might recall that the display featured a picture of a space shuttle taking off (the 20" at the Powermac page still features the image).
Click to expand...

Just noticed thismyself.. its a sad day for America.
 
great...now columbia...

for some reason every single time i wake up some tragedy happens.
woke up as soon as the first plane crashed into the twin towers on 9/11,
now columbia when it was over california.

this is so sad...
 
Grief... and Resolve

The nation grieves. The loss of the Columbia and the lives of those on board will not be in vain. The space program will forge ahead, in their name, and in the name of all who have lost their lives in the ongoing magnificent endeavor to reach beyond Earth's confines, to explore, and to understand.
 
Originally posted by zarathustra
To say the least, my morning was ruined. Then they started showing the debris on the ground all around - Nacogdoches, Tyler, Palestine.
Click to expand...

Dude, it totally creeps me out that Columbia blew up over a town named Palestine on the mission that was carrying the first Israeli astronaut. Not that I think it's anything more than an incredible coincidence, but you have to admit, it IS creepy :eek:
 
Looking at the Apple website...I thought...oohhh, thats nice, they put a beautiful pic of Sydney there...why is the shuttle gone? Then I check the boards and what!!!!! I dont believe it...this is twice now? I remember Challenger and now Columbia.....my sincerest condolences to the families and the space program. Of all the things that are great about America the space program for me is number one...it espouses not only some of the best characteristics of your nation but also the what the world could become through cooperation and advancement of humanity....

If I was an American I would be sad but also very angry that I have a president that spends literally billions upon billions of dollars on weapons and yet NASA struggles to get its fair share of the budget every year when its agenda, I would argue, is of the highest moral order....


Hopefully something will change because of this. I know the Aussie kids who helped with the spider research on columbia will be mortified by the news...
 
Columbia

My sympathies to the families and friends of those aboard - a terrible, terrible day for the world.

Gene Roddenberry said it best with "...to boldly go where no one has gone before."

I take comfort in knowing that the Columbia 7 knew the risks, accepted them and ultimately died as heroes in their pursuant of their beliefs.
 
This is shocking and tragic news. I still find it hard to believe that the orbiter was actually destroyed. This is terrible news for not only America but for science the world over. This could set back space exploration back by a decade. Hopefully NASA will extra funding to replace the aging shuttle fleet sooner rather than later.
 
The Sight of it All

I got up early that morning to watch Columbia come over that morning. The flight path would take it directly over the top of my house. I was outside with the door open, and had CNN turned up loud so that I could hear the news. Then I saw it.

I have been a diehard NASA fan since childhood. Always watching and getting reports on NASA and the shuttle missions and studing about the space race and so on. I was so exited. Rarely does very interesting things happen in my town, so to see the Shuttle fly over head is an interesting sight indeed. I live in Palestine, Texas. If anyone was watching the news, then you know that the first report of the Space Shuttle exploding came from here. It came perfectly from the west, and directly over my head, I saw distecnt objects leaving the orbiter, what I later confirm as pieces breakin up in front of me. The pieces glowed blue, green, and a bright white. I at first was very impressed, but I knew something was not right. It did not take long for someone to finally get CNN's number and report the explosion.

It wasn't until 3 minutes later that I knew for certain that the Shuttle would never land. I waited outside......for the sonic boom, and it came, long after, what remanied of the shuttle had flown overhead. Then the explosion.......the amount of noise, and increadible, followed immediatly with the house shaken and the ground horrible vibrating. The force of the blast was incredable, it had happened 40 miles up.

The rumble lasted for a solid 2 minutes. My younger brother, who was asleep, was woke to the sound of the explosion and the vibration fo the house. I have a very large surrond sound system in my house. He thought at first that I was screeming the music through my sub, but the vibration quickly put to rest those thoughts.

Then the reports on CNN confirm what I knew.....Columbia was gone. I keep thinking how I watched the Shuttle breakup directly overhead, and how 7 people instantly lost thier lives. It has made me very distrot, and I feel for the families.

I have seen all the video of the shuttle flying overhead, and all of it was shot from a far side view. I wish....God I wish, I had got out my video camera, it would have been the most accurate, incrediable shot that NASA would recieve.

God Bless the souls of the 7. And may we continue on.
 
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