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Anniversary of Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster

Today is the 20th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, when the orbiter broke up on reentry. I just drove by Space Center Houston, and the orbiter mockup sitting on the back of the 747 brought back some sad memories of that day and those that followed.
Matt85 · 36-40, M
RIP .. For real..
Budwick · 70-79, M
It was all so sad.
I remember people holding out hope even after watching the exploded pieces streak across the sky.
exexec · 61-69, C
@Budwick We had been concerned about reentry since we didn't know how big a hole was in the orbiter. As soon as we saw the first sign of a breakup, we knew the crew was lost. We gave our staff paid leave if they wanted to help search for wreckage and remains in East Texas.
Heartlander · 80-89, M
For years, I drove that area north-south between Louisiana and Texas. It's a pretty remote. Sabine River, Toledo Bend. Not very many east-west roads. The remoteness continues almost to Kansas City and the Missouri river. Like you are either east of it or west of it.

FWIW, In 1964, I landing at Ellington just a few hours after Astronaut Ted Freeman's birdstrike accident.
exexec · 61-69, C
@Heartlander I know the incident, but I wasn't here then.
Heartlander · 80-89, M
@exexec I was also in and out of Ellington routinely through the 1970s. I really like that area. Easy access to both Houston and Galveston, but without the big city crush ... at least then.
exexec · 61-69, C
@Heartlander It's worse than the 70's, but still not too bad. It has grown a lot with a lot of new medical fcilities.
akindheart · 61-69, F
there is a huge article in the paper about this. I was on the road when Challenger broke up. horrible site.
exexec · 61-69, C
@akindheart Those of us in the meeting knew less than 99% of America until we got home and turned on our TV; or in my case, until I got to my hotel room.
olderuncle944 · 70-79, M
@akindheart I was in Merritt island wit family visiting my inlaws we were devastated and my father in law worked at the cape .
akindheart · 61-69, F
@olderuncle944 that is heartbreaking
hippyjoe1955 · 61-69, M
Both the Challenger and Columbia were tragic in the the loss of lives and equipment and the huge money pit that space travel has become. I remember the heady excitement of the first earth obit and then the first lunar landing and then the excitement ebbed as the technology failed to advance. Our chemical rockets are just not up to the task of taking us anywhere of significance. Maybe to Mars? What do we hope to gain by going there? The moon turned out to be a waste of time and money so what do we hope to gain by going to Mars? Until our technology improves drastically space travel will be a effort in futility. Kind of like a Tesla car. Great idea, great concept but...... Yeah the technology just is not there.
exexec · 61-69, C
@hippyjoe1955 Although I spent my career working in the manned space program, I agree with much of what you wrote. On the other hand, I am amazed at what the unmanned space programs have accomplished on a fraction of the cost of the manned programs.
hippyjoe1955 · 61-69, M
@exexec It is pretty neat what the Voyager program accomplished as well as the Mars lander just for curiosity sake but in reality none of our space travels have really helped us gain an understanding of how the world works. Yes we have gained some technology from the investment but not as much as we often assume. My old engineering dean at university was recruited by NASA to work on the Apollo program fresh out university himself. He spent a year doing full scale drawings rolling around on a car creeper. He quit after that year and found something more productive to do with his time.
olderuncle944 · 70-79, M
I was 60 miles south of Kennedy when it happened i was on my way to father in laws house on Merritt Island i watched the explosion from my car and you could here it 50 miles away .
Crazywaterspring · 61-69, M
I was working outside (Tarrant County) and heard a sonic boom. I looked up and saw that it had already broken up.
exexec · 61-69, C
@Crazywaterspring It was a terrible sight to see separate trails across the sky.
Space travel is fool hardy but nationalistic.
exexec · 61-69, C
@Roundandroundwego The partners on the International Space Station might dispute some of the nationalistic points, but it is dangerous and expensive.
Ynotisay · M
That's when a whole lot of people tuned in live to watch the Shuttle take offs. It was a big deal. That was the last thing I think anyone was even considering. Those were 'feel good' events. So tragic. Couldn't believe what I was seeing.
PatKirby · M
I recall getting an email if I'd like to join NASA in recovering Columbia's wreckage over northern TX.
exexec · 61-69, C
@PatKirby They needed a lot of help.
Such a terrible day.
Zonuss · 41-45, M
You should have did one for the [b]Challenger. [/b]
exexec · 61-69, C
@Zonuss I'll try to remember in Jan. 2026 for the 40th anniversary of the Challenger disaster.

 
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