Space Shuttle Columbia lost?

[WayneLigon]

Aw, man.. And the crew bios say that for four of the seven, this was their first spaceflight. What a tragic end to what is possibly one of the most unique experiences a person can have.

 

[thatdarncat]

from BBC:

reports of human remains being found

 

[thatdarncat]

also from BBC: video of pieces of debire

 

[CrusaderX]

My prayers go out to those who were lost, and those who they left behind.

 

[Trevalon Moonleirion]

God bless all of the astronauts and their families...

So this is how it felt when Challenger exploded, eh? Not a good feeling...

 

[Eridanis]

Once again, the blood turns to ice.

Once the mourning is over, let's hope this causes us to redouble our efforts in space exploration, and to provide adequate funds and proper execution for it. It's too important to let slide away.

(It wasn't very widely reported, but Pres. Bush's latest budget includes funding for a brand-new unmanned Jupiter mission in the late 00's - one that will not just sling a probe out there, but will put a craft out there capoable of navigating between the various moons in the Jovian system for a ten-year exploration mission. Hopefully, that a sign that this administration will not dismiss the space program.)

 

[Mr Fidgit]

the BBC says they're expecting a NASA new conference at 1 (EST), so, in just a few minutes

 

[Krizzel]

Here's to the explorers, among the noblest and bravest of us all.

They live on in memory.

 

[Alzrius]

This is a horrible tragedy. Those poor people...both the ones lost, and their loved ones who remain behind to mourn...

My heart goes out to the relatives of those lost with the shuttle.

 

[ninthcouncil]

This really awful news, and just goes to show that, however blase everyone may have become about it, space travel remains a dangerous business. I remember a while ago reading that risk assessors had suggested that the shuttle had an expected time between accidents of about 50 flights; it looks like they might have got it about right