The Columbia: In Memory

The Columbia
1981 - 2003

Mission Control:
"Columbia, Houston we see your tire pressure messages and we did not copy your last."
Columbia:
"Roger, uh, ..."

(transmission breaks off after the crew member starts to say a word beginning with the sound "buh.")

The last Columbia crew consisted of:

Rick Husband,
Shuttle Commander

William McCool,
Pilot

Michael Anderson,
Payload Commander

Ilan Ramon,
Payload Specialist

Laurel Salton Clark,
Mission Specialist

David Brown,
Mission Specialist

Kalpana Chawla,
Mission Specialist

"The same creator who names the stars also knows the names of the seven souls we mourn today. The crew of the shuttle Columbia did not return safely to earth, yet we can pray that all are safely home."

President George W. Bush
February 2, 2003

President Bush's Comments

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