By azizhp at 2008-02-01
Five years ago today, Shuttle mission STS-107 was lost over the blue morning skies of Texas.
By azizhp at 2008-02-01
I remember that morning clear as day.
By azizhp at 2008-02-01
In addition to the American members of the crew, it should also be noted that two other astronauts, one from India and the other from Israel, also perished aboard Columbia. The Indian astronaut was Kalpana Chawla, India's first female in space. Wikipedia notes that kalpana in Sanskrit means "imagination of the mind" and thus also "creation". The Israeli astronaut was Col. Ilan Ramon, a combat pilot in the Israeli Air Force, and the first Israeli astronaut. But not the last, inshallah.
UPDATE: An excellent website with a photo of the crew aboard Columbia in space. The photo was actually recovered from the wreckage.