Space shuttle Columbia lost over Texas

[Paul]

   Our thoughts and prayers are with the astronauts, family, and friends of the space shuttle Columbia.

      Paul



STS-107

[sasvermont]

How tragic. My thoughts and prayers to the astronauts and their families.

[Paul]

   

   The STS-107 crew included, from the left, Mission Specialist David Brown, Commander Rick
Husband, Mission Specialists Laurel Clark, Kalpana Chawla and Michael Anderson, Pilot
William McCool and Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon.

      Paul

[mugsy]

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the astronauts.

All of the Pet Talkers in Texas are also in my thoughts for being extremely careful of debris.

[Cataholic]

How very tragic. Prayers to those involved.

[joycenalex]

may their families be comforted in knowing that they passed over to the rainbow bridge doing what they wanted to be doing. joyce in columbus

[ChrisH]

So awful. My thoughts and prayers are for the astronauts and their families and friends.

Chris

Oh no .......;; how tragic

I am praying for the mourning families . Let's hope they didn't suffer to much ....

[KYS]

Very tragic, still can't believe it.
My heart goes out to crew and their families.

[Kfamr]

Jeez..What a great thing to wake up to after a night of throwing up and coughing...


Everyone be careful of the debris and things on the ground.

May thoose on the ship. R.I.P.

[Karen]

It is a sad, sad day. Everyone stay safe, and hug those you love. As Paul said, our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Prayers are with the families and friends of those lost. I remember the loss of the Challenger only too well. Tonight there will be 7 new stars to join them in heaven.

One thing to be grateful for is no one on earth has been hurt by the falling debris.
(((HUGS FOR THE FAMILIES)))

[Desert Arabian]

I want to cry right now! One of the ladies, Laurel, was from Racine, Wisconsin; which isn't too far from where I live. She has an 8 year old son. I am so sad.

My prayers go out to all the families.



(Feb. 1) - A brief look at the six Americans and Israel's first astronaut aboard space shuttle Columbia:

Commander Rick Husband, 45, Air Force colonel from Amarillo, Texas. The former test pilot was selected as an astronaut in 1994 on his fourth try. He made up his mind as a child that that was what he was going to do with his life.

``It's been pretty much a lifelong dream and just a thrill to be able to get to actually live it out,'' he said in an interview before Columbia's launch, his second spaceflight.

Pilot William McCool, 41, Navy commander from Lubbock, Texas, and father of three sons. He graduated second in his 1983 class at the Naval Academy, went on to test pilot school and became an astronaut in 1996. This was his first spaceflight.

Payload commander Michael Anderson, 43, the son of an Air Force man who grew up on military bases. He was flying for the Air Force when NASA chose him in 1994 as one of only a handful of black astronauts. He traveled to Russia's Mir space station in 1998. The lieutenant colonel was in charge of Columbia's dozens of science experiments. His home is in Spokane, Wash.

Kalpana Chawla, 41, emigrated to United States from India in 1980s and became an astronaut in 1994. On only other spaceflight, in 1997, she made mistakes that sent science satellite tumbling out of control. Other astronauts had to go on spacewalk to capture it.

David Brown, 46, a Navy captain, pilot and doctor. He joined the Navy after a medical internship, went on to fly the A-6E Intruder and F-18. He became an astronaut in 1996. Columbia's mission was his first spaceflight.

Laurel Clark, 41, a Navy diving medical officer aboard submarines, then flight surgeon who became an astronaut in 1996. On board Columbia to help with science experiments. Has 8-year-old son. Her home is in Racine, Wis.

Ilan Ramon, 48, a colonel in Israel's air force and the first Israeli in space. His mother and grandmother survived Auschwitz death camp. Father fought for Israel's statehood alongside grandfather. Ramon fought in Yom Kippur War 1973 and Lebanon War 1982.

He served as a fighter pilot 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s, flew F-16s and F-4s. He was chosen as Israel's first astronaut in 1997, then moved to Houston the next year to train for shuttle flight. His wife and four children live in Tel Aviv.

[zippy-kat]

Wasn't yesterday the anniv. of the Challenger? (happened in '86)

{{Those poor people and their families. All are in my thoughts!}}

[AmberLee]

OMG ... OMG ... OMG