Ok let's all take a deep breath...

[TennVolTony]

The appears to have been a horrible accident. The likelyhood of terrorism is almost an impossibility. There were military aifcraft all over the skies on the re-entry route. IF anything had been launched to bring down the shuttle it would have been seen and intercepted......

We have lost another 7 souls onboard a shuttle. Please pray for them and the families as well as all of us. This is going to be another day that you will always remember.

In a program of this magnitude...the slightest "accident" can and does have tragic results...... I am numb with disbelief...

 

[cinlee3]

I don't believe it is terrorism. I think we take for granted how dangerous a shuttle mission actually is because there have been so many. You are right, the slightest error can cause catastrophe.

 

[Liz]

Thanks Tony. Yes, a day we'll always remember, added to other tragic days that leave a permanent impression on our lives.

My husband and son are up at a resort skiing & snowboarding today. I'm sure they have no idea what's happened.

 

[Serena]

This is so very sad.

 

[vald1977]

I just saw your post and had no idea what happened. Turned on the news... how sad . My heart goes out to the families.

 

[iLovDisney]

Wasn't it just this week that was the anniversary of the Challenger disaster?

 

[sydally9367]

January 28th was the anniversary of the Challenger tragedy

 

[fireplug]

I agree we should slow down and find out what happened. We cannot allow ourselves to start blaming every bad thing on terrorists


Steve

 

[Hagred]

I agree with Fireplug. I also feel this was a horrible accident created by either equipment failure or human error.

 

[Mom2Em]

Well said, Tony... numb is the perfect word to describe how I am feeling...

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

Tony your words echo what Astronaut Buzz Aldrin said on television not too long ago.

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

and january 27 was the anniversary of the Apollo One tragedy. not a good week for NASA.

 

[CathyCanada]

Of course when I heard that they had lost communication with the space shuttle, the Challenger immediately came to mind. How very sad for all involved. The Challenger had the first teacher onboard and they just recently reinstated that program after discontinuing it when Christa McAuliffe (sp?) was lost in the Challenger disaster, and the Columbia had the first Israeli astronaut, Ilan Ramon.

Terrorism is unlikely since the altitude and speed would have made it virtually impossible to shoot down.

When I was in Orlando a couple of weeks ago, WebmasterDoc showed us pictures he had taken of the Columbia when it lifted off on the 16th.

The families of those lost will be in my prayers.
CC

 

[Poohbear123]

History repeats itself.......

 

[CJK]

My prayers are with the family and friends of the 7 astronauts.

 

[WebmasterAlex]

It's so easy to become complacent. We have had so many succesful launches in a row that we forget, space flight is still a very dangerous business. If your car engine stops or an airplane has a problem they still have a chance. A shuttle on reentry developing any kind of a problem has almost none, the tolerances for a safe landing are so tight.

 

[WillyJ]

Well said Tony. . . and excellent points Alex. .

The Challenger tragedy was caused by a small crack in one 1/4 inch O-ring which just shows how little it can take for a terible accident to occur with space exploration. . and an expert who was just interviewed said it could have been an "aerodynamic" problem- at the speed the shuttle was traveling if it lost control at all the force of the wind could have caused it to come apart. . .

These men and women were the 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th , 16th, and 17th people to have perished in our space program. . . Considering amount of space flights over the the past 50 years and how little room for error there is with this typ of mission, I think it's quite a tribute to NASA that there have been so relatively few disasters. .


A very sad day, and my prayers for the family of those who lost their lives. .

 

[Zurg]

The risk or reaching out side the box are very real. It is in that reach we grow.

Taking a deep breath is a good idea. Reach beyond the temptation to place an early blame, greive for the loss of life and rejoyce in the excellence they dedicated their lives too. Learn lessons and continue to explore.