We all Americans and the World feel deeply saddened by the tragic event that happened on Saturday February 1, 2003. We lost suddenly 7 brave and heroic astronauts, 5 men & 2 women, when the space shuttle Columbia developed a major problem and disintegrated while entering our Earth's atmosphere upon just 15 minutes before landing at Cape Canaveral, Florida. All of the 7 crew were killed and our country, and the world, again lost human lives on the 3rd space program disaster since the space program began using manned missions in the 60's. We all give our sympathies to the families and friends of the crew. Our prayers are with all thru this great time of need and remembrance. We truly lost HEROES, as these astronauts payed the ultimate price for technology and for the betterment of mankind !
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********** OTHER AMERICAN SPACE DISASTERS **********

1. Apollo 1- January 27, 1967. 3 astronauts, Virgil Grissom, Edward White, & Roger Chaffee were killed in an internal capsule fire while running routine tests on the launchpad at Cape Canaveral, Florida.

2. Apollo 13- April 11, 1970. 3 astronauts, Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, & Jack Swigert came close to being lost on the way to the moon during an internal electrical failure which led to an explosion. They, with the help of Nasa engineers, made a miraculous effort and returned home safely after several days dealing with extreme cold, problems to solve, and makeshift repairs as needed. They used the attached lunar lander, as their capsule to survive the remaining days on the way back home in, until right before entering Earth orbit, and then returned to the capsule module for their re-entry and a safe splashdown. Jack uttered the now famous words, " Houston, we have a problem !".

3. Space Shuttle Challenger- 51-L - January 28, 1986. 7 astronauts lost their lives within 70 minutes after takeoff from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Among the crew was the most publicized teacher, Christie McAuliffe.

4. Space Shuttle Columbia- STS-107 - February 1, 2003. Again 7 astronauts lost their lives when the shuttle disintegrated on entering the atmosphere for a landing over northeast Texas. Among the crew was the 1st Indian-born woman astronaut and the 1st Israeli man astronaut.

********************* COLUMBIA CREW PHOTO **********************

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