Columbia's final crewThree years ago this morning, a brilliant blue sky over East Texas exploded with a terrible rumble as the space shuttle Columbia broke apart as it re-entered the earth's atmosphere, raining debris across the forested landscape and killing seven astronauts onboard.
I remember how the sonic booms caused by the shuttle's many pieces, big and small, shook my house and my heart, as I realized with a sickening kick to my stomach what had just happened. And I remember never doubting that some day, somehow, America would return to space.
The shuttle disaster was one of the seminal moments in my newspaper career, perhaps the biggest story I have covered. Professionally, I have rarely been better than I was on that horrible day.
But today, I will do my best not to dwell on the effect the disaster had on my life and career. Instead, I hope to do my small part to remember the legacy of the seven astronauts who died Feb. 1, 2003, in service to their nations — there were five Americans, an Israeli and an Indian on Columbia's final mission — and to all mankind.
To read an earlier posting about Columbia, including a link to a NASA site about the disaster, and the future of the space program, go here.
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