***Space Shuttle Tragedy***

Jim_B1 · Post by **Jim_B1** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 1:23 pm

My prayers are with the families and friends of the astronauts lost as well as the crews at NASA that have to find out what happened and make sure it never happens again.
-Jim

Soineanta · Post by **Soineanta** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 1:24 pm

I have nothing I can say, no significant quotes that come to mind, nor touching prayers to offer. What a tragedy. I can only hope, fervently, that we are able to find what the problem was and how to fix it so it does not happen again.
My thoughts too are with all those involved.

Tyghress · Post by **Tyghress** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 1:50 pm

Great sorrow. . .and thoughts go out to the families, friends, and courageous people still in space, and going back to work there soon. There is no going back from the brink of deep space. It will always be a terrible and dangerous, and exciting part of our lives.

Redwolf · Post by **Redwolf** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 1:51 pm

High Flight

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 sunsplit clouds; and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of--
Wheeled and soared and swung--
High in the sunlit silence. Hovering 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, nor 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.

John Gillespie Magee

Chuck_Clark · Post by **Chuck_Clark** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 2:08 pm

I've been glued to the TV for most of the five hours since it happened. Its so much like CHALLENGER - shocking and terrible in its surprise and the suddenness when all seemed to be going well.

In view of the last 16 months, and with one of the crew being Israeli, I guess its only natural for some folks' first question to be whether terrorism was involved, although from the very beginning I've doubted it because of the shuttle's altitude and speed.

113 shuttle flights and only two such tragedies is a pretty amazing record when one considers the awesome forces needed to throw a shuttle into space and bring it home. As our hearts go out to the crew's families, we should still remain cognizant of the fact that the crew knew the risks and gladly accepted them. Death is always horrible, but if you think about it, it came while they were doing something important that they loved. There should be some solace in that.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Chuck_Clark on 2003-02-01 15:10 ]</font>

serpent · Post by **serpent** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 2:15 pm

My heart goes out to the families. I am so incredibly sorry for them... Yet they have known nobility of purpose beyond so many of us.
Bill Whedon

jeffmiester · Post by **jeffmiester** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 2:48 pm

"For better is it to dare mighty things,
To win glorius triumphs,
Even though checkered by failure,
Than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy
much nor suffer much because they live in the grey
twilight that knows not victory nor defeat." -Theodore Rosevelt

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: jeffmiester on 2003-02-01 15:49 ]</font>

NicksterNM · Post by **NicksterNM** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 3:04 pm

Seems like the time to play a verse or two of Amazing Grace on one of our whistles.

Nick

amar · Post by **amar** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 3:14 pm

I just found out, such terrible news, awful..

Dewhistle · Post by **Dewhistle** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 4:00 pm

rebl_rn · Post by **rebl_rn** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 4:04 pm

Godspeed....

Gary · Post by **Gary** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 4:05 pm

We built Columbia here in Palmdale. She was built with pride. May The Good Lord receive her precious cargo and comfort the families of her seven heros.

cowtime · Post by **cowtime** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 9:53 pm

I listened to coverage of this on NPR all day while delivering mail on my route. It truly is a tragic happening and is so sad for the astronauts families and friends.
It takes a certain kind of person to be an explorer in not only the unknown but in this case, the uninhabitable and I'm sure they weighed the risks and decided it was worth it.
prayers to all

CraigMc · Post by **CraigMc** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 10:06 pm

Follow men's eyes as they look to the skies.
The shifting shafts of shining weave the fabric of their dreams... RUSH

These folks put their lives on the line for the betterment of mankind.

My thoughts and prayers are with their families.

Brian Lee · Post by **Brian Lee** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 11:39 pm

Having spent many years at the planetarium here, I have come to know many of the astronauts from the area. They are indeed of a different breed than most of us.

There is something you can see in their faces, and hear in their speech, that sets them apart.

It is true they know the risks, and while they have accepted them, it does little to ease the pain their loved ones must feel at these times. Yet their families and friends supported them in life, and will do so at their passing as well.

May we as a nation and as a world wish them ALL well, and send them home with love and prayer.

Blessed Be.

B~