As with all, my heart goes out to all the families affected by this terrible event. I too am glad that the US government will continue its commitment to the exploration of space.

However, I would love to actually SEE the Presidents address. The downloaded file is CBS's attempt at reducing Bush to a voice-over artist.

Well, at least Dan Rather didn't invite a Democratic response.

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May their souls find adventures to outshine space. The exploration game is not an easy or safe one.. These men and women had courage, drive, inspiration, and wonder. They will be missed.

God bless them and their fmailies.

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I'd turned the TV over to CNN just on a routine whim to see what was going on in the world and caught the first report that NASA had lost contact with the Columbia. This was about 8:20 a.m. that I saw it. My heart just sank at that moment, and I just knew that something tragic had occurred.

I remember the Challenger incident all too well, as I was 19 when it happened. And I remember only a couple of years before that seeing the Enterprise fly by my high school as it was piggy-backed by a 747 on its way to Texas. Now this happens.

One of the good things that has come out of this has been the fact that there was no terrorism involved at all. More importantly, it's got me continuing to ask God why this had to happen, and that's something that can only be answered in time.

It made me think back to Star Trek IV and the film's dedication to the Challenger astronauts. It's only fitting that Enterprise, or even the Nemesis DVD when it comes out, have an equal tribute.

May God bless the families of the astronauts and comfort them and us all.

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I deeply regret the tragic events that took plqce early this morning. Since I became a Star Trek fan, I have looked forward to the discoveries of the technology that would shape Roddenberry's vision. It is a sad thing to face news like this in the struggle to obtain the fantastic. Even though I do not care much for President Bush, I do applaud him in not allowing this setback to impede an important goal for humanity of Space Exploration. I will be posting a bigger salute on my web site later this evening because I'm at work now.

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I have an appointment with ETERNITY... and I don't want to be late.
-- Malcolm McDowell (Dr. Soran -- Star Trek 7: Generations)

Visit my site at Web-knight.net

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What a way to wake up on a Saturday. Words cannot express how I feel about this loss; it's a huge loss to not just the US, but to all of us.

God bless the crew and families of the space shuttle Columbia.

Cinepixel

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"See this? This is my BOOMSTICK!!!"
Ash from ARMY OF DARKNESS

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The news of Columbia's destruction hit me hard and I'm Canadian. That doesn't matter, it hit not only the United States, but the entire world. I was only very little when the Challenger was destroyed on lift off in 1986, but I still recall vague pictures in my mind of television airing this tragedy. It comes as a shock again some 17 years later as the world witnesses another space mission go wrong.

However, it's an educational day for those with the courage to go forward so soon after this to investigate this accident and to discover new and better ways of preventing such an accident from occuring in the future. Every step back is two steps forward when there is strength and motivation in the human race.

This crew died doing what they loved best and for that, we salute you and bid farewell to the men and women who risked and lost their lives helping mankind evolve in to the 21st century.

Thank you and god bless all of you.

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Anyone hear whether Paramount is going to do some kind of dedication before this week's ENTERPRISE in memorial, like they did with STAR TREK IV?

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Ah, Microbrain! Growl for me one more time. Let me know you still care!
-Q, "Q Who?"

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I'm located in Phoenix and I was at my office around 6:55 AM MST and I saw Columbia go streaking by, from west to east and to the north of me.

It was an awesome sight. It couldn't have been more than 5 minutes before it was lost.

This is a sad day, but I hope we will be able to move on.

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I too recall being in HS and listening to the reports of the Challenger and all the confusion, including one reporter who thought the shuttle had been blown free of the explotion when in fact it was one of the booster rockets. I find it odd NASA isn't saying it is Columbia yet officially as any moron knows it was. As to the cause I think it will be a long time before anyone is sure, but I can't imagine after all these flights the trajectory angle could be off. Just to throw out a wild guess, I'd go with the theory one of the heat shield plates came off causing a chain reaction where the other shields behind it came off. I think the idea of terrorist doing this is absurd and shouldn't even be wasting time looking into it. I hope there are no hints of coverup like there was with Challenger concerning the remains of that crew. I'd be very surprised if there is another shuttle mission this year which would leave the Russians with the personal/supply runs to the space station.

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First, I would like to mirror the comments of the previous poster 'Hunter' in his commendation of Steve Krutzler. Steve, it was very...appropriate for the story to appear on TrekWeb's website, and it was very maturely done. Many thanks to you.

After 9/11, there were many message boards where people posted their grief over what had just happened and shared their accounts of that day. I guess this is as good a place as any to give mine.

I was asleep in bed this morning when my wife awoke to a phone call from her brother. I remember the first words that I heard that woke me up were my wife going "what? oh my god! We lost it?" I tried to ask her what she was talking about but she became speechless, then turned the tv on to Fox News and there it was. Video being replayed over and over again of the shuttle tumbling and breaking up.

It sort of touches a little more personal note for us. I live in Amarillo, TX. My wife went to school with Rick Husband, the Commander of Space Shuttle Columbia. She didn't know him very well she said, but she did know that he had a wife and children. At that point, she and I pretty much broke down and cried.

Can any of you imagine what it must have been like for the families of those astronauts? Sitting there, waiting for their loved ones to touch down, then suddenly being whisked away by NASA officials. A thought which evokes visions of the Space Shuttle Challenger, and the looks on the faces of the families watching the launch when it exploded.

Today, I hope that all Star Trek fans will remember the sacrifice of these brave astronauts. A sacrifice which I honestly believe will eventually herald an age of man not unlike the world of Star Trek. Where our future is in space, and we travel through it just as we would travel to the grocery store.

I hope that everyone will please remember the families and friends of the astronauts who lost their lives today in in your prayers. Also, remember that the brave people going into space aren't just Americans. The entire world is seeking to go there. Let's not forget that a member of Columbia's crew was from Israel. He was already a hero for that country having served in Israel's Air Force. Now, he is a hero for humanity.

As well as prayers for the families who lost loved ones today, I will also pray for the United States Space Program. It truely saddens my heart that this tragedy may cripple NASA for the time being. I pray that we learn form the events of today, and find ways to get this country back into space as soon as possible, and as safely as possible.

To everyone who has been touched by this today, family members, countrymen, Trek fans, and all others, my heart is with you.

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Today we lost seven heroes piloting a vessel of true peace and exploration. The brave crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia were not only the pride of the United States space program, but rather a wonderful display of international cooperation and teamwork. In a world of constant fighting, consistent threats of war and termoil, and much pain and suffering, space exploration has always been the machine that looked the other way - towards peace and discovery.

I came to TrekWeb's site today because - of all the people that truley know and appreciate the glory and the potential of space exploration - I knew Star Trek fans would realize it the most. It is a window "out", a place to start over, a path to peace and tranquility as beautiful as the heavens. It is a place where your nationality matters only to the newscasters on the ground. Up there, astronauts represent mankind's future. A future much like Gene Roddenberry envisioned.

So, let us pray that today NASA's space programs aren't brought down by talk of terrorism and conspiracy theories. Let us take today's tragesy and hope that people focus on the positives which the space shuttle program brings all around the world. Toady you won't hear much about Iraq and war. No, today belongs to seven very brave human beings who were trying to make this world a better place, by looking at it from the outside.

In conclusion, I would just like to commend Steve K. for his very quick reporting and extremely professional article about today's world tragedy. I am a former news reporter for both TV and print and, I must say, you did an exceptional, mature bit of reporting. Thank you.

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May God bless them and their families...

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"I am not sure what disappoints me more... your cowardice or your stupidity."

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I extend my condolences and best wishes to the families and loved ones of the seven crew members of Columbia.

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And Good Luck!

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"Unless I'm wrong...which you know, I'm not."

-Monk

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And it brings back awful memories of Challenger. :-(

Safety note: Apparently NASA is telling people in Texas to stay away from any shuttle debris, as it is extremely toxic.

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...From the ashes.

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