Space Shuttle Columbia
Yesterday was a sad day for the manned space program. S.S. Columbia broke up in re-entry and all seven astronauts were lost.
On the 1st of February, the manned space program was dealt it's worst blow since the S.S. Challenger and seven brave souls died following their dreams. S.S. Columbia had completed 27 successful missions and was returning home from a successful 28th. It was designed to complete 100 missions. It was during the re-entry performance of several speed bleeding turns when the warnings began. (Disaster Timeline)
An investigation is being conducted into the cause of the accident. Until the cause is determined, further shuttle operations are on hold. Theories as to the cause of the accident include heat tiles that may have been knocked of during launch, structural stress due to the harsh aerodynamics of the drastic re-entry turns, and a malfunction in the fuel system.
Complete coverage is available from CNN, NASA, Space.com, SpaceDaily.
I think that the crew would want the manned space program to continue. I know, had I been in their place, that is what I would want. We will learn from the failure of S.S. Columbia to return it's crew home and the safety of Space Shuttles Endeavor, Discovery, and Atlantis.
I am certain tht many will point to this and declare that manned spaceflight is folly. I disagree. Astronauts Husband, McCool, Anderson, Chawla, Brown, Clark, and Ramon knew the risks and had the courage to face them. Manned spaceflight must continue. It is the only way that humanity can expand into the universe and make it our own as we reach for the stars. We must let nothing stand in the way of our progress. We cannot allow ourselves to cower in fear on Earth; humanity has too much potential, and beauty to shudder in it's womb. We cannot overlook the fears of the here and the now, but we will not allow them to blind us to the future.