Last updated: 14 June 2005
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Last updated: 14 June 2005 |
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Subject: The crew of STS-107 the last Columbia mission Sent: Saturday, February 1, 2003 11:12:19 From: edcarlos@comcast.net (Ed Carlos) This is a sad day for not only NASA and our nation but for the world. I'm not sure if you are collecting messages for posting on your site but I guess this is a way of sending out condolences to the family and friends of the STS-107 crew. They are heroes much like the crew of the Challenger mission. To them forever clear skies...
Mike here: As I noted on a special site update this morning, my condolences to the family and friends. It is a sad day for America and all spacefaring nations. I have fond memories of Columbia. When I was in the Air Force I worked on the Space Shuttle Program. I had an opportunity to visit the launch pad and get onto the crew access arm while Columbia was on the pad prior to STS-1 back in 1981. I got to look up into the main engines from beneath the pad and look at the tiles up close. I was at Edwards AFB for the first landing. Then I got to visit the Orbiter Processing Facility following the first flight and see Columbia going through post-flight maintenance. I have an American flag that was flown on STS-2, the 2nd flight of Columbia. A special item to me, especially now. [click on the image for a full-size version]
Subject: STS 107 Sent: Saturday, February 1, 2003 13:44:17 From: N2MWE@msn.com (kieran OHagan) Through hardship to the stars. they will shine a little brighter tonight. May their souls rest in peace, and may God bless their families. Kieran O'Hagan
Subject: THEIR JOURNEY WILL GO ON Sent: Saturday, February 1, 2003 14:19:49 From: lschmidt@loganet.net (L&P Schmidt) I got up early this morning eager to see the landing of STS 107,what a shock to find that communications had been lost with STS 107. Then came those terrible words "Columbia gone,crew gone". I hope that the journey these brave explorers started will go on. Exploration is a dangerous business but where would mankind be if we did not explore? The thoughts and prayers of America and the world are with the families of the Columbia crew as they deal with a terrible loss in their lives.
Subject: Space Shuttle Sent: Saturday, February 1, 2003 17:25:53 From: peter.de.ruddere@village.uunet.be (De Ruddere Peter) sorry for the bad spaceshuttle news today, also here in belgium we regret a lost in space sience. Peter De Ruddere
Subject: nice tribute!
Sent: Saturday, February 1, 2003 19:17:05
From: bobcath28@msn.com (ROBERT DEROUIN)
Mike, I really like your image of the flag which flew on sts-2.I know
how special this is to whoever owns it!I was given a similar flag which
was flown on sts-26,the first mission to fly following the Challenger
disaster.It was given to me by a friend who knows a NASA worker.She
thought I might really appreciate it.This flag is definitely one of my
most prized possesions!!I really feel closer to NASA and the shuttle
program for owning it. I have full confidence we'll find and overcome
the problem,and fly gloriously again!!
Bob Derouin,Johnston,RI
Subject: sad day for all
Sent: Saturday, February 1, 2003 19:56:52
From: nh64man@webtv.net (Daryl Averill)
words just cant explain this tragedy.
my thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones that are left behind.
daryl
Subject: In Remembrance
Sent: Saturday, February 1, 2003 20:19:01
From: tjbulat@spe.midco.net (Tony Bulat)
High Flight
by John Gillespie Magee, Jr.
Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds...and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of...wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew.
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
To the Crew of STS-107
Subject: STS-107 Sent: Saturday, February 1, 2003 20:10:32 From: matthewgertz@attbi.com (Matthew Gertz) A very sad day. It brought me back to my freshman year in college, when Challenger was destroyed. I remember my idiot ex-roommate commenting, "Wow, did you see it? Cool!" and I have never wanted to hit someone as much as I did at that moment. My aunt's brother, Jack Lousma, flew on one of the earlier shuttle missions, and I myself, when a grad student, worked at NASA for a couple of summers as an intern working on a project destined for the space station. This hits really hard. I turned on the TV this morning, noted that the view was of Mission Control instead of the cartoon that my kids wanted to watch. This puzzled me, since network TV rarely shows landings these days, and I was momentarily concerned, but the scene seemed to be calm, and so I called my 6-year-old and 4-year-old sons over to see the shuttle landing, since I knew that today was to be the day. When I turned up the volume and realized what was really going on, I had to explain to my sons that the astronauts that they idolized were gone. That was very difficult. I don't know what the ultimate cause of this accident will be determined to be, but this just drives home (to me) the point that it's time that America brought the shuttles into the 21st century. It's absurd to be running a fleet of aging ~20-year-old shuttles based on technology developed 35 years ago, when more recently available technologies are so much better. These shuttles have flown 20-30 missions apiece, have been subjected to all sorts of extremely stressful conditions when launching or in reentry, and frankly I'm astounded that there haven't been more accidents before now. If we want to give the deaths of these astronauts some meaning, if we want to "do right" by them, then let's use it as the impetus to develop -- *and* *implement* (!) -- new shuttle technologies, like so many engineers have demanded over the past decade. Space travel is dangerous, space travel is risky, yet, ultimately, space travel is necessary. Let's do it right, and prevent accidents like these before they happen. Matthew W. Gertz, Ph.D.
Subject: STS-107 Sent: Saturday, February 1, 2003 21:17:09 From: JimAuralee@cs.com "A bad day..." pretty much sums it up. We lost seven astronauts and a ship today, but the cause must be found, fixed, and exploration continued. I am hopeful this will be done because... 42 years of manned spaceflight with only 3 fatal incidents is a spectacular safety record, and one our scientists and engineers can be proud of. Remembering America's (and Israel's) best... - Jim
Subject: STS-107 Sent: Sunday, February 2, 2003 3:34:20 From: ron.young@tiscali.co.uk (Ronald Young) Nature The families of the Shuttle crew that died yesterday are in our thoughts. We send them our love. May their Gods give them strength to cary on. Another seven bright stars twinkle down on our home planet - Earth. Lets not forget the Astronauts and Cosmonauts of all nations that have died in past space exploration. All of them were brave people that died furthering the knowlege of mankind. Ron and May Young
Subject: Columbia Keepsakes Sent: Sunday, February 2, 2003 8:42:52 From: lschmidt@loganet.net (L&P Schmidt) I have a keepsake of Columbia's first mission,a press guide and I also did a scrapbook of news clippings of the first three missions, now I will start one on her final journey into the darkness of space and the brave crew who were aboard her. As in the song by John Denver written after Challenger: "THEY WERE FLYING FOR ME, THEY WERE FLYING FOR YOU"
Subject: STS-107 Sent: Monday, February 3, 2003 5:52:48 From: pharris@crestnicholson.com (Harris, Paul) My thoughts go out to the families. I've seen two shuttle launches, both Atlantis, it's truely the most awe-inspiring sight I've ever seen. A great loss for the U.S., Israel and the world. Nothing else to say really :-( r Paul
Subject: Columbia Sent: Monday, February 3, 2003 8:37:09 From: sbauto@vol.net.mt (Bajada) Very sad to hear about the Columbia disaster. I am a radio amateur and often work satellites, and know well how these people dedicate their life for space. God Bless America. Joseph Bajada Malta
Subject: Ilan Ramon Sent: Monday, February 3, 2003 12:04:11 From: bpinnington@hotmail.com (William Pinnington) I don't particularly want to submit anything to the memorial page, as there are only so many ways you can say how sorry you are for what has happened. However, I couldn't write this email without passing on some sort of condolence. I know many people have said it but the shuttle disaster is something that really does touch people around the world. Listening to the radio on the way home from work tonight, I was touched by the comments of the Israeli schoolchildren who had met Ilan Ramon and had designed a chemical garden experiment for him to take with him. They had received a photograph, from space, of him with their experiment. Kind regards, Bill Manchester, UK.
Subject: STS-107 Sent: Monday, February 3, 2003 19:43:57 From: joerodricks@attbi.com (Joseph Rodricks) I am sickened at those that critique the shuttle program at all, but especially now. Those 7, the Columbia 7, gave their lives in the service of humanity. We should all be so lucky as to die for such a noble cause. Joe Rodricks
Subject: STS-107 Columbia's last mission Sent: Monday, February 3, 2003 21:23:15 From: divenuts@gte.net (divenuts) Words can't convey the tragic loss we all feel. I'm sure I speak for all when I say to the families, we feel your pain. The space program has been a source of tremendous pride and patriotism. I was born and raised in Florida....I remember going to Cape Kennedy and watching a couple of the Apollo moon launches. Shedding tears of joy and pride as I felt the earth rumble with the power of the massive Saturn V booster. Walk on the Moon...imagine...fact, not science fiction! Thirty years later, I find it amazing to have the same feelings when I have made the 2+ hour trip to see shuttle launches. It's still leaves me in awe to be able to see a launch from my front yard, 100 miles from the Cape and be able to watch launches clearly enough to see the solid rocket boosters separate from the shuttle through binoculars. I'm sure everybody remembers where and what they were doing when Challenger exploded......once again, a terrible tragedy freezes time. Let us honor the memory of the brave Columbia astronauts by pushing forward with our pursuit of knowledge. They died heroes doing the work they loved......we won't forget. Chuck and Jeanne Callaghan Dunedin, FL
Subject: STS-107 thoughts Sent: Tuesday, February 4, 2003 12:18:32 From: sts107memorial@xemaps.com If "Let's Roll!" sums up, in two words, our feelings about 9-11; Lt. Col. Michael Anderson's, "If this thing doesn't come out right, don't worry about me, I'm just going on higher," should perhaps characterize our feelings about these lost heroes. May they sail forever, unfettered through the stars. DaveG Free STS-107 Memorial wallpaper at http://www.pcpages.com/sts107/index.html
Subject: STS-107 COLUMBIA and CREW MEMORIALS Sent: Tuesday, February 4, 2003 13:07:20 From: marcuskd@cox.net (Marcus Dinsmore) I hardly ever like anything the pundit Charles Krauthammer has to say, but in today's Washington Post,(2/4/03) his column, "It's Time To Dream Higher", calls for what would be a true memorial to our fallen heores. He says: "If we're going to risk that first 150 miles of terrible stress on body and machine to get into space, then let's do it to get to the next million miles -- to cruise the beauty and vacuum of interplanetary space to new worlds. Back to the moon. Establish a lunar base. And then on to Mars." Ad astra per aspera, Marcus Dinsmore
Subject: God Bless You!!,Mike Weasner!! Sent: Tuesday, February 4, 2003 21:18:36 From: bobcath28@msn.com (ROBERT DEROUIN) Hi Mike!,I really need to say thank you,and God Bless You for starting the STS 107 Memorial section' on your illustrious website!!It's really become an awesome place to go!After reading all the entries,,tears welled up in my eyes.This is the first time I cried for our beloved astronauts.Even going back to the Challenger crew.I love human space exploration,and try to know everything there is to know about it.I personally feel close to all NASA's astronauts,something than not too many people can say.I feel special to know them.And I kept asking myself, after all these years.Why no tears for the Challenger Seven,then this past weekend..why no tears for the Columbia Crew??????Maybe I didn't really know them well enough to cry for them.I was sad!!But your memorial site did open me up,just that little bit more.allowing me to greive..in a way that I thought I should!!!Thanks again Mike,and thank you Columbia Seven,for bringing the skies down a little bit closer for us here on Earth!!!! Bob D.
Subject: I'm not sure if it was Columbia.
Sent: Wednesday, February 5, 2003 14:24:42
From: dcanard@cswnet.com (doug+canard)
I may of seen Columbia {or one of those shuttles} when it flew piggyback
into Altus AFB, back in the 80's. I can't remember exactly which shuttle
it was. I stood admiring it as long as I could.
What a travesty.Such brave heroes. I'm sure they would want us to press
onward and higher?
Regards,
Doug
Subject: My thoughts on STS-107 Sent: Friday, February 7, 2003 6:41:05 From: vampirelestatsoulreaver@msn.com (Vampire Le Stat) Just over 17 years ago, I was having a busy day, celebrating my 15th birtday. I'd been to school and had come home in a fine mood, looking forward to enjoying a happy evening. Then the news came through on the TV: Challenger STS-51L had been lost on launch. I stood, unable to comprehend the enormity of this terrible news. I was troubled by the loss of the brave souls who manned that flight for all of us. But times change...... This time, 3 days after my 32nd birthday I was out doing the shopping for my family. The Nokia 7650 chimed at my waist, indicating a new news report. I opened it up, expecting to see the latest soccer news or information on recent terror suspect arrests. I looked and I read. Again, I stood, unable to comprehend the enormity of this terrible news. My wife asked me what the matter was. I showed her and simply said "Gone." In the intervening 17 years what has changed? I have married, had children, carved out a career as an Aeronautical Engineer but my interest in space and the exploration of has remained constant. The shuttle is now a more than 20 year old design, relying on technologies over 30 years old. I work with Concorde and know, that despite it's beauty and it's unique position in air travel, it is an ageing aircraft who's day of retirement, though not imminent, must now surely be in sight. To compare it with a 777 is impossible; the 777 has far more safety systems and backups and is much more efficient. My point is that the world (for the shuttle is now being used for truly international crewing) can not depend upon the shuttle anymore for routine space flight. A new concept MUST be developed and I believe it should be co-funded by all nations who wish to make use of the facility for satellite deployment or research in the future. Any nations who opt out now but do eventually use it should pay for the privelege. Anyone who has read the late Carl Sagan's "Pale Blue Dot" will know that to secure the future of human existance we must promulgate throughout our galactic locality. To do this we must push for advancement and be prepared to pay for the protection of our future generations. That's why 7 gifted souls were released from this earth on Saturday. My thoughts are with them and their families. The Vampire Lestat, UK
Subject: STS Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2003 18:22:32 From: bryangm@excite.com (Bryan) Im pretty bummed out about this one. My uncle worked for Rocketdyne for many years (they built the engines for the shuttle) and as a kid I used to go to their open houses all the time. There we could meet the astronauts, see the engines and other parts of the shuttle. Every time there was a launch he would gather up all the patches and stickers and pictures that he could and send them to me. I remember waking up early at 8 years old to run to the TV and watch the Challenger. I watched it explode. At that age I didn't really comprehend the whole situation. When I woke up last Saturday I saw almost the same thing but this time I did comprehend. Most big tragedies don't effect me (even 9-11... sure I felt bad, but I didn't know anyone and it was 3000 miles away) but somehow this one hit a mark with me. Just bummed me out bigtime. Especially since every time the shuttle or space station flies over I have to run out and watch it, which makes my wife think Im crazy. Sure its just a dot moving across the sky, but somehow you feel connected to it. -bryan
Subject: ColumbiaDMAFB.jpg Sent: Saturday, March 1, 2003 16:23:02 From: al.massaro@earthlink.net (Al Massaro) After discovering your tribute to STS107 I thought it only appropriate for you to have a copy of this picture. I took this in Tucson in 85, I hope you enjoy it, I have had it hanging on my wall all this time and now it carries a lot more significance for me.Al Massaro 
Subject: STS-107 Memorial Sent: Friday, March 11, 2005 07:40:38 From: Mike Hogan (mhogansr@comcast.net) Since I found your site a month or so ago, I have been so busy looking for technical info I never even noticed your STS-107 Memorial Page until today. I too was heavily involved in the Space Program for over 30 years. Although the Columbia disaster occurred after I retired, it was still devastating. I am attaching an image of my flag award, flown on the maiden flight of Columbia. During the final years before my retirement, I was Network Operations Manager for NASA's Space Tracking and Data Network at Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. We planned and coordinated tracking and data acquisition ops for all NASA supported missions, including Shuttle. I was also at Edwards for a short while, in '83, as the RF systems supervisor at the Buckhorn Lake NASA Tracking Station on the hill overlooking the runway. Maybe you remember it. It was the site that tracked STS-1 during final approach and landing. I have received a lot of awards over the years, but the most prized are the STS-1 flag, my Silver Snoopy for STS-1 support, and the personally autographed photo of the STS-1 crew. Every two years we have a reunion of former employees of Bendix Field Engineering Corporation, the company I worked for, and you can believe the Challenger and Columbia will never be forgotten by them. All the best, Mike
Subject: sts 107 Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2005 12:36:53 From: Tyler Hancock (Auburntyler25@msn.com) sad day on God's earth but a glorious day for man kind we learned from our mistakes. We correct the problems that way. So they did what they trained to do that is all they had to do for that 16 day. God bless there families.
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