The Columbia Space Shuttle was scheduled to re-enter the atmosphere Feb. 1 when, 40 miles above the earth’s surface, it broke into several pieces.
The debris from the horrible wreckage rained down across Texas and Louisiana.
All seven astronauts on the shuttle perished instantly. The seven astronauts killed were commander Rick Husband; pilot William McCool; payload commander Michael Anderson; mission specialists David Brown, Laurel Clark and Kalpana Chawla; and Israel’s first astronaut, IIan Ramon.
The haunting image of the Columbia’s last moments was repeated continuously on television. A world was joined in grief.
The tragedy of the Columbia Space Shuttle is mourned by the entire nation, including people here at Mississippi State University. Some students and faculty members of the aerospace engineering program at MSU shared their reactions to the disaster that claimed the lives of seven astronauts.
Anna Woods, a freshmen aerospace engineering major, acknowledged that the Columbia tragedy has had an impact on her life. Woods, in the ROTC program at MSU, expressed her deep appreciation for people who serve their country and felt those brave astronauts died serving their country.
Keith Koenig, a professor in aerospace engineering, commented on the reactions of his students to the Columbia disaster. Koenig said that his students do not take these recent events lightly but understand that these things are inevitable.
Koenig called the event sad and tragic, but he recalled the words he used when a similar event occurred years before.
“I said this when the Challenger disaster occurred and I repeat it now,” he said. “Realize that bicycles crash, cars and school buses crash, airlines crash and the Shuttle is going to crash. If the Shuttle continues in service for anther ten years or so, it is quire likely that during that time another disaster will occur.”
While Koenig admitted the inevitability of such accidents in the space program, he added that the manned space flight program should not be stopped because of this tragedy.
Another professor of aerospace engineering, Jim Newman, drew on his thirty-seven years at NASA when commenting on his reaction to the Columbia tragedy. Newman claimed that the space shuttle travesty has affected him greatly, and that he still has a difficult time adjusting to the recent events.
Newman worked on many of the components of the Space Shuttle over the past twenty years. In 1999, he toured the Columbia as part of a Shuttle Independent Assessment Team. He contributed, along with other NASA employees, in attempting to make the Space Shuttle safe and reliable. “Today I wonder whether we could have done more,” he said.
Joel Konkle-Parker, a junior in the aerospace engineering program, stated that the Columbia’s ill fated journey has made him more committed to his field of study. He is cooping this semester at the NASA Langley Research Center in Virginia and claimed that the reaction to the disaster is the same there. This unfortunate event should not slow us from our exploration of space, he said. When asked about canceling the space program all together, he replied that we should continue on and even build a base on the moon one day.
A senior aerospace engineering major, Alex Allen remained dedicated to his major as he talked about the Columbia and the many risks of space travel. Allen mentioned that this year is the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brother’s flight, and in those 100 years humans have went from hovering 120 feet in the air to sending space probes millions of miles into space. He recalled the many setbacks that occurred during those years, from Amelia Earhart’s missing flight to Apollo 1’s fire that claimed the lives of 3 astronauts. During those hard times, he pointed out that the perseverance of mankind overcame these tragedies and pushed onward.
“The ‘Columbia 7’ will be remembered in my heart forever as I work as an engineer in my future career. I know I will never be one to go into space, but I hope to work someday to help people realize their dreams,” said Allen. “That is why I want to be an aerospace engineer, to help the human race realize their ultimate dreams.”
Aerospace Engineering Lab Operator Jim Schrock called himself a fan of the shuttle, despite the recent problems. He admitted he is saddened by another failure, and he also admitted that he does not want the flights to stop. He even stated that if NASA called him and asked him to go on the next space exploration, he would in a heartbeat.
While everyone at MSU has mourned for the loss of the Columbia’s brave crew, including this reporter, a sense of hope has emerged from the scattered wreckage of the Shuttle. Those seven men and women gave their lives for something they believed in, they gave their lives for the betterment of humankind. Benjamin Howell, an aerospace student, summed up these feelings with just one simple sentence. “Greater love hath no man that this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13.”