Columbia Anniversary

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER (AP) - Five years ago today, the space
shuttle Columbia disintegrated in the skies over Texas, killing all
seven crewmembers aboard.
NASA will remember the crew during a memorial service today at
the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The widow of Columbia
commander Rick Husband is scheduled to speak, along with the NASA
administrator.
An investigation revealed a suitcase-sized piece of insulating
foam had ripped away from Columbia during launch and punched a hole
in the left wing. During re-entry, the hole allowed-in super-hot
gases that melted the wing.
The current shuttle program manager says he still thinks about
Columbia every day and how to "prevent similar events." Wayne
Hale says the NASA culture has changed so that it now listens to
all who are concerned about possible safety problems.
Next week, the space agency is set to launch shuttle Atlantis to
the international space station.