Remembering Columbia

Photo of Ilan Ramon

10 years ago today I remember waking up early excited to catch another landing. I tuned in to NASA TV and started the VCR. Littler did I know that 26 minutes later the shuttle Columbia would break up over Texas. Even today I still can't believe it happened, let alone that it's been 10 years! The Columbia was my favorite shuttle as a kid. When it was destroyed and crew lost, I followed the investigation from day one. I will always remember that day and that crew. Never forget them.

Hail Columbia and her crew!

NASA and the world lost seven brave explorers on Feb. 1, 2003, when the shuttle Columbia broke apart during re-entry. In this photo from a roll of unprocessed film recovered by searchers, the STS-107 crew strikes a flying pose for their traditional in-flight crew portrait. Top row, from left: David M. Brown, mission specialist; William C. McCool, pilot; and Michael P. Anderson, payload commander. Bottom row, from left: Kalpana Chawla, mission specialist; Rick D. Husband, mission commander; Laurel B. Clark, mission specialist; and Ilan Ramon, payload specialist from the Israeli Space Agency. Image Credit: NASA + Flash Feature: Day of Remembrance