5th Anniversary of Columbia Disaster

By: Jamie Burch | WKRG-TV
Published: February 02, 2008

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER (AP) - NASA is remembering the seven
astronauts who died in the shuttle Columbia disaster five years
ago.
Officials, fellow astronauts, schoolchildren and family members
of the lost shuttle crew gathered today at the Kennedy Space
Center's outdoor astronaut memorial.
Among those paying tribute were children from Israel, the
homeland of astronaut Ilan Ramon, and a space official from India,
the homeland of astronaut Kalpana Chawla.
The space agency's chief, Michael Griffin, read a letter from
President Bush honoring the "seven brave astronauts of Columbia,"
and presented it to the widow of astronaut Rick Husband.
Griffin also stressed the risks of spaceflight. The next shuttle
crew launches Thursday.
The shuttle Columbia's wing had been gashed by a chunk of fuel
tank foam insulation when it lifted off. While returning to Earth
16 days later, the shuttle shattered above Texas just minutes
before it was supposed to land.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

5th Anniversary of Columbia Disaster

5th Anniversary of Columbia Disaster (Added: February 01, 2008)

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