NASA shuttle tragedy

[Chiccadum]

Has anyone been following this, i've just seen on the news that the mission could have been jinxed from when they set off two weeks ago, pieces started falling off 1 minute after take off. Is anyone safe doing anything anymore, remains have been found as well as badges off uniforms and also helmets. What those astronauts must have gone through, who knows if they knew they were never going home, it makes you wonder?????????

[Corbin]

Since I live in the US, it's been impossible not to follow this as it's on the news day and night. It's just absolutely horrible, it brings back the awful memories of when Challenger exploded in 1986.

Honestly, I feel a little numb about it right now. It seems like every single day we are bombarded by hideous happenings that have taken more lives. I don't know the facts of what the astronauts went through (even NASA may never know) but it is so overwhelmingly sad to think that they had any idea they were going to die. Many of them had families and children...I can't even fathom knowing for a second I would never see my dd again or that she would grow up without me.

One thing that is concerning is what will now be done about the astronauts still aboard the space station. They have one escape vessel, that could bring them back to earth, but has not been tested with a live crew. NASA has suspended all of their shuttles from leaving earth during the investigation and any repairs or adjustments to be made. After the Challenger tragedy, it was THREE YEARS before NASA cleared another shuttle for launch. Granted, Challenger had a design flaw and apparently Columbia had a repair problem so it shouldn't be so long this time. But still, I can't imagine being trapped in space. They can still get minimal supplies from remote shuttles being launched from Russia but they are not worthy for human travel.

Another thing that has sickened me is that some of the people living in the debris field have collected pieces of the shuttle (including a helmet), despite being warned that it is likely radioactive. They took the Columbia debris and put it up for auction on Ebay! How disrespectful can people be? It's like stomping on their grave and selling the headstone. Ebay promptly put a stop to the auctions, but the fact that anyone actually did it in the first place places a giant dent in my faith in humankind. I know, all the crap everyone is pulling lately wasn't enough or something.

It's all just so very sad

[breeze]

i am quite into space travel, and felt compelled to watch this even though i found it deeply upsetting, it seems worse to see when you actually see the people who have died wither photo's or video footage.

I remember when the spage shuttle exploded on take off, i was 12 at the time, but it always stayed with me.

I think the people who tried to sell on ebay, and the sicko's who now have another excuse to make up jokes are completely sick and totally disrespectful, hopefully these can be found and prosecuted.

For there sake i hope there was no warning of this happening and that it happened so quickly, and i really feel for all there families especialy the ones there waiting for them to leave.

I am sure that those astronaughts will not be left stranded, the missions will continue after all the necessary checks are completed.

[LIZS]

This is an awful tragedy and I think it will be some time before confidence in the Space Programme can be restored. In the end no machine or individual is infallible. I have found some of the TV coverage to be unnecessarily detailed and graphic - do we really need to see repeated footage of the incident and debris ?

However I have a slightly different issue. My 4.75 yr old ds is keen on space, like so many boys his age, and has seen some of the coverage (too much for my liking). He attends an International School which is predominently American and his teacher and one of his classmates come from Texas. Obviously, given this, it is likely to be a topic in the classroom today. We have tried to explain to him that the explosion was sad because of the astronauts who died and that their families will not see them again. How can I strike the balance between maintaining his fascination for space while helping him understand the implications. I really do not want to go over top and scare him as he can be such a sensitive child. Do I wait for him to ask the questions, as I do not yet know how this is being handled at school and in the playground today?

LizS

[hmb]

Lisz,
I have had similar thoughts myself. I think in the end you have to be honest, but I intend to tell my Dd that I am sure that none of the brave astronauts would want the advance into space to stop. They were brave men and women who wanted to go into space more than anything, and that sadly they died, but we have to make sure that the great adventure goes on. That is the best way to remember them. And I think that waiting for them to ask the questions is the key, and only answering the questions they ask.

But it is a sad day.