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Members of the Space Shuttle Columbia
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Saturday, February
1, 2003 the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon re-entry
to the earth's atmosphere. All seven crew members, six
Americans and one Israeli, were lost.
IN MEMORIAM The members of
Columbia's crew were each highly trained and highly respected
individuals. Their loss deals a great blow to the Space
Shuttle program, though the President pledged today that the
program would go on. The members of the crew were:
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Lt. Colonel Michael
Anderson | |
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Ilan Ramon, Colonel,
Israeli Air
Force |
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Columbia crew are known to be people of faith and prayer. Colonel
Rick D. Husband spoke openly of the many joyful experiences he had,
including the birth of his children, "Just being there with my wife,
and just the awesome experience of seeing a baby come into the
world--and just being so overwhelmed with God's goodness in blessing
us with two wonderful children." Husband also spoke of his love of
music and singing, "Well, I've been singing for a long time. When I
was growing up going to church, I sang in church choir as a real
little kid...Especially with some of the songs that we sing in
church, just being able to sing a song to tell God how much I love
Him, it just feels great. It really does."
Lieutenant Colonel Michael P. Anderson was active in his
church and though quiet, his pastor said he was a man of solid
faith. Reflecting on the many people who have influenced his life,
including teachers and ministers, he commented, "As you look back at
your life, there are just a million different things that have
happened, just in the right way, to allow you to make your dreams
come true. And you know, someone has all that under control."
ON TUESDAY THE CREW HAD OBSERVED A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR
OTHER NASA DISASTERS
In a chilling
irony, members of the Columbia crew observed a moment of silence on
Tuesday, January 28 in honor of the lives that had been lost in both
the Apollo One and Challenger missions and all others who have lost
their lives in the quest to explore space. Columbia's team leader,
Rick Husband called the Johnson Space Center on Tuesday afternoon
saying,
"It
is today that we remember and honor the crews of Apollo 1 and
Challenger. They made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives
and service to their country and for all mankind. Their dedication
and devotion to the exploration of space was an inspiration to
each of us, and still motivates people around the world to achieve
great things in service to others. As we orbit the Earth, we will
join the entire NASA family for a moment of silence in their
memory. Our thoughts and prayers go to their families as
well"
--STS-107 commander Rick Husband.
The
moment of silence was followed by ringing a bell for each astronaut
that has died in the line of duty.
PRESIDENTIAL RESPONSE
In light of the tragedy, President Bush requested
prayer for the families and loved ones of the shuttle Columbia's
crew.
![]() The President spoke to the nation this
afternoon, offering these words of gratitude to the brave astronauts
who lost their lives:
"My fellow
Americans, this day has brought terrible news and great sadness to
our country. At 9:00 a.m. this morning, Mission Control in Houston
lost contact with our Space Shuttle Columbia. A short time later,
debris was seen falling from the skies above Texas. The Columbia is
lost; there are no survivors.
On board was a
crew of seven: Colonel Rick Husband; Lt. Colonel Michael Anderson;
Commander Laurel Clark; Captain David Brown; Commander William
McCool; Dr. Kalpana Chawla; and Ilan Ramon, a Colonel in the Israeli
Air Force. These men and women assumed great risk in the service to
all humanity.
In an age
when space flight has come to seem almost routine, it is easy to
overlook the dangers of travel by rocket, and the difficulties of
navigating the fierce outer atmosphere of the Earth. These
astronauts knew the dangers, and they faced them willingly, knowing
they had a high and noble purpose in life. Because of their courage
and daring and idealism, we will miss them all the more.
All
Americans today are thinking, as well, of the families of these men
and women who have been given this sudden shock and grief. You're
not alone. Our entire nation grieves with you. And those you loved
will always have the respect and gratitude of this country.
The cause in which they died will continue. Mankind is led
into the darkness beyond our world by the inspiration of discovery
and the longing to understand. Our journey into space will go on.
In the skies today we saw destruction and tragedy. Yet
farther than we can see there is comfort and hope. In the words of
the prophet Isaiah, 'Lift your eyes and look to the heavens. Who
created all these? He who brings out the starry hosts one by one and
calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty
strength, not one of them is missing' (Isaiah 40:25-26).
The
same Creator who names the stars also knows the names of the seven
souls we mourn today. The crew of the shuttle Columbia did not
return safely to Earth; yet we can pray that all are safely home.
May God bless the grieving families, and may God continue to
bless America."
--George W. Bush
| Prayer points for today: |
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Pray for the President as he and his fellow
leaders provide comfort and direction in the aftermath
of the tragedy. |
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Pray for the families and loved ones of
Columbia's crew-for their comfort, their courage, and
their strength. The names of the astronauts are listed
above. |
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Pray for Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge as
he coordinates the federal response to the tragedy.
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Pray for the dozens of local law enforcement
agencies that will be involved in recovering debris from
the Columbia. Pray for their safety and protection, and
for the public to cooperate with their efforts.
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Pray for the nation of Israel which has lost a
national hero in astronaut Ilan Ramon.
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