3:34 PM CST: jo anna there are people starving on earth. who are we really going to save in space. why not be more compassionate for our own people. forget about meaningless competition for a while look how much it’s cost us so far, you can’t put a price on life, especially 7 at once
3:30 PM CST: Michelle T., 43 There are 12 children who have lost a parent. They needed their parent more than the parent needed to go into space. If they had thought of their children they would still be here for them. I will pray for the children, they are the true sufferers.
3:30 PM CST: jeannie Bless all of the families in their loss. May we always remember these heroes and their great sacrifice.
3:27 PM CST: Bill & Denise Our sincerest admiration for the 7 heroes taken so quickly and our prayers and thoughts are with their families.
3:17 PM CST: Cathy H God Bless the 7 who never came home and the families that are left behind! More funding should come from the govenment for the research and space programs to continue. More public awareness is needed as it was in the past!
2:59 PM CST: Rita H. Congress needs to open up the pocket book and let loose with some money for the space program. Like someone said before me who drives a 20 year old car these days. All we can do is remember these brave individuals and there families and continue with the space program
2:35 PM CST: Chuck This smells like the 1986 disaster. Maybe it is time NASA grounded the fleet for newer technology.
2:30 PM CST: JonB This nonsense of ending space travel because there are people who are poor is utopian dreaming. Using such logic, humanity will remain earthbound and backwards forever. Never forget many of the greatest technological advancements of the late 20th Century sprang from the U.S.?Soviet space race.
2:30 PM CST: Samantha Am I the only one appalled by the sudden reversion to fundamentalist thought in the US? Honor the Astronauts for their contributions to science and humanity, and recognize that we are not all Christian!
2:23 PM CST: Steph Tech generated by the space program has resulted in safer, more efficient, and in some cases, lower cost articles that are now in consumer’s hands. As a nation, we owe it to ourselves to continue exploring all boundaries.
2:20 PM CST: David While the Columbia loss is tragic, we must not stop space exploration. Throughout human history, men and women have been going to places never gone before, learning and discovering, expanding knowledge for all humanity. Individual lives are lost, but all of humanity benefits. Godspeed Columbia.
2:19 PM CST: timmy may god bless the seven that never made it back
2:14 PM CST: Christie Yet another screw up by NASA that cost precious lives and resources. It’s time for a complete overhaul of that organization including accountability.
2:07 PM CST: Ashley “Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the grey twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.” -Theodore Roosevelt
1:57 PM CST: yakhole-Sayville Bless those who have, through bravery and patriotism, made this great country what it is today. Superiority and success come with many hidden costs as we have endured in the past. We shall continue though and prevail through it all.
1:53 PM CST: SFN This country was founded by people who were willing to take risks on the unknown. I hope we don’t diminish the memory of these 7 brave souls by turning our back on the space program these people loved, believed in, & were willing to risk their lives to further.
1:29 PM CST: Martin Stop real government waste if you want to help the needy. A bleeding heart does no good without fiscal responsibility in government. At least the space program brings honor and pride to our country, not to mention the incredible scientific research.
1:23 PM CST: RAO The destiny of humanity is to live beyond the bounds of earth; our planet is a limited resource which can support only a finite population. The USA is responsible for fullfilling man’s destiny in the universe.
1:20 PM CST: John S. If you look beyond this latest tragedy, you will see that all of us are paying for a very expensive, high risk program, that’s not even that significant from a scientific point of view. How many of you drive 20-year old rebuilt cars?
12:44 PM CST: rsm I was disappointed when reading one of your articles. It isn’t necessary to be so graphic. Instead of saying the “charred” helmet was found, just say helmet. Be a little more sensitive.
12:43 PM CST: Roland Glotzer How many people heard the prez, this week was,nt he full of emotion!!
12:30 PM CST: John Can we stop spending so much money on space exploration as long as we have so many poor people in our country who cannot afford a place to live or necessary food and/or medicine?
12:26 PM CST: Tom The loss of life from the Columbia tragedy certainly is horrible. I just wish that Americans would grieve as much for the all-too-frequent horror stories of hundreds of even thousands of innocent citizens of other countries being killed due to genocide, famine, etc.
12:20 PM CST: dani My prayers are with the families.It’s times such as this tragedy, that ones’ faith comes in handy.The astronauts have found their home…
12:12 PM CST: Stephen Exploration is necessary and dangerous but… HOW MUCH RISK is the question that has to be asked! The proposed next step IS nuclear fuels. How about 200 square miles of Texas as a nuclear wasteland and thousands of residents killed? Is that just another risk ?
12:07 PM CST: jmm Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we shall fear no evil, for the Lord is with us. May God bless those who lost their lives in this tragedy.
11:56 AM CST: dickbattles I agree with the president, who said “they have gone home.” Closure will be difficult. We pray ebay and the government will be diligent in prosecuting the ghouls claiming to have found debris and offering for on-line sale.
11:53 AM CST: Jan I wonder whether we should continue space exploration. After all we have so many Americans that go without food, shelter, clothing and medical care. Maybe it’s time to use some of that money and help those in the country who really need it.
11:47 AM CST: jim There’re resources to support endeavors like the NASA. The method de jour is the market approach which has taken sadly 7 courageous lives by pushing for cost. More lives are lost unnecessarily every day. “It’s the society stupid”. Respecting life could’ve affected the Columbia’s outcome.
11:47 AM CST: Moitz My prayers go out to fhe families of those who died in this tragedy. That being said, the media needs to get some perspective on this. It’s not the end of the world, there is other news going on, and people die in horribly tragic accidents in other countries every day. What makes us so special?
11:40 AM CST: Jan G. This is very sad, but we as Americans should be proud of the astronauts ,as well. How many people leave this earth doing what they love? They knew the risks of their jobs and preformed them willingly. That is the definition of bravery. That is America…
11:26 AM CST: charlene I think there should be someway to eject from the orbiter in case of trouble.
11:26 AM CST: DWP I think it is our legacy to push our physical (as well as intellectual) boundaries to the limit. Every worthwhile venture into unknown territory has come with its own risks and casualties. I think we have no choice but to continue to explore and push the boundaries of the unknown.
11:15 AM CST: Sue The space program is all about the future. These men and women believed in the future and risked their lives for what they believed in. To abandon space exploration and science would be to desecrate their very souls.
11:15 AM CST: Kerry While my sympathies go out to the families of the shuttle astronauts, these seven service people would be only a fraction of the potential losses we would face in war with Iraq.
11:13 AM CST: Steven We should keep up with space programs. We should alert new combers that have something to do with space programs the risks that are involved.
11:11 AM CST: judy We are a nation built on an idea–the idea that each man should have the opportunity to reach as far as his imagination will take him. The loss of Columbia breaks our hearts–but those seven astronauts would be the first to shout down any idea of abandoning our dreams.
11:08 AM CST: irvtex3 Thank G_d we are a nation of explorers who lead the world in space and a lot of what is happening on earth. We will always be the leaders because we take the risks. God bless America.
11:04 AM CST: TREWQ Every kid dreams of being an astronaut. Joining the space program is one of the few things in this corrupt world that is based solely on merit. These guys were living out the purest of dreams for all of us. Let this remind us that we had taken them for granted.
10:58 AM CST: Rick The astronauts knew the risks. The engineers knew the risks. The politicians and the public think it’s like taking a 747 to LA. It isn’t. Space flight will be a risky, experimental endeavor for a long time.
10:54 AM CST: Big D in Phoenix These seven knew the risks yet were totally commited to the space program. Just as our military knows it’s risks and knowingly puts themselves in harms way for the benifit of freedom and humanity. Can’t get more American than that. God bless the Columbia crew and all their loved ones.
10:45 AM CST: Karen Such a wonderful group of people entering heaven’s gates. They are higher than any shuttle could ever fly.
10:45 AM CST: Tim It’s unfortunate that there are people who don’t realize all of the technology we use in our daily lives that resulted from the space program. We have to realize that exploration has always involved risk, and the end results are always worth it.
10:44 AM CST: must go on I was just waking up from delivering my first son 17 years ago and seen the tragedy of ’86 This Saturday I wondered why we don’t televise the the shuttle launches anymore. We need to bring that back and continue space travel. May god bless all involved.
10:41 AM CST: Maria I think I agree with everyone on this, and I also am very sad and sorry to see these great men and women lose their lives to support our space program!
10:40 AM CST: Keith God Bless everyone lost in this tragedy. And may God help everyone affected get through the grieving.
10:37 AM CST: father o’malley thousands of fetuses are aborted everyday, where is the outcry for them?
10:35 AM CST: August The flag of freedom, The flag of hope, The flag of courage, Is ensnarled in sorrow, Draping listlessly, silently, Colors not radiating, not resplendent Muted with lost, anguish The flag will snap proudly another time, But for now, it mourns, it remembers, it weeps.
10:24 AM CST: Venessa Two tragedies in 46 years?Let’s continue the space program – those seven heroes who lost their lives on a mission for our country would want it that way.
10:20 AM CST: Tom McElrath Space, the final frontier. Maybe there should be a final mission. Then we should concentrate on our earths other frontier, the ocean depths. My prays to all.
10:15 AM CST: Bewildered Will someone please tell me why NASA is dealing with budget deficits??This is the most advanced space program in the world—FUND NASA Mr. President, and don’t allow this tragedy to repeat itself.
10:15 AM CST: sanchezs We should come together and pray to God for those who lost there love ones in the accident , so in the future this will never happpen again.. more inspection should be done..
10:09 AM CST: Debbie Our prayers go out to the families of those who lost their loved ones on Sat. aboard the Columbia. The men and women of saturdays horrible accident will for ever be remembered and honored as heros.
9:54 AM CST: CINDY I THINK WE SHOULD KEPT UP WITH THE SPACE PROGRAM IN HONOR OF THOSE WHO LOST THIER LIVES IN THE PAST AND FUTURE. I HOPE IT NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. BUT WE ARE PEOPLE WHO LOVE TO GO INTO UNKNOW PROJECTS. SO THEIR ALWAYS A RISK FACTOR. MY PRAYER ARE WITH THE FAMILIES OF THE SPECIAL PEOPLE WE LOST.
9:51 AM CST: strength in sorrow While I feel the loss, I don’t want to contatnly be reminded of the ’86 tragedy. Opening up old wounds doesn’t help us get over the loss and what about those families and having to “relive” their losses all over again?
9:50 AM CST: TINA Before anymore people go up in space, the whole space program should be re-evaluated and inspected for safety issues.
9:41 AM CST: Stephan A sad story, but the space program had to continue. When a plane crash, other continue to flight. I think that the best way to honor their memories, is to continue shuttle flight. But also, it may be a sign for NASA to built another king of shuttle.
9:40 AM CST: BRIAN Tragedy like this reminds me of how great it is to live in this country. These people are heros.
9:36 AM CST: richard while my hearfelt sorrow goes iout to all connected with the space program, and ,i can’t help but hope that the FBI and all concerned thoroughly prosacute all the people who tried to sell parts of the shuttle on e bay the day it happened. how heartless and cruel can these people be ?
9:18 AM CST: jim nap I am at a lost for words about this. Ifeel so bad that these people were so excited to see their family members and the next thing they know, their entire world was changed for the worse. I feel so sorry.
9:16 AM CST: Barbara (skygazer) My family sends our prayers to the families of our 7 heros. I met one one the first shuttle astronauts in 1987 and thanked him for doing something I would love to do. So, I now thank all the others involved in the space program for keeping our dreams alive!
9:15 AM CST: ENRIQUE AYALA MY PRAYERS GOES OUT TO FAMILIES ,FRIENDS AND CO-WORKERS OF THESE MEN&WOMAN WHO ARE HEROES TO AMERICA. FROM ORLANDO FLORIDA FORMER LONG ISLANDER.
9:03 AM CST: bill Get rid of the space progam. 17 men and women have died for what. really is seeing if silk worms can survive in space?
8:49 AM CST: proud in Chi God Bless those who take the risks for the rest of us. The Columbia crew, like all astronauts, pushed the envelope in a quest to learn more and by doing so, were already heroes before they fell. Deepest sympathies go out to the familes. American is proud of you!
8:39 AM CST: YW I think this time being courageous is knowing when to stop not going forward. It’s time we admit it’s not a good idea to this space mission -how about focusing on us here on earth?
8:33 AM CST: sadmom I hope children will still dream of going into space. I hope this never happens again.
8:33 AM CST: sad mom On Sesame Street today, Elmo writes and reads a book about traveling in a spaceship to somewhere in space. Quite a coincidenceconsidering recent events. No, it wasn’t unsettling for my 20 month old daughter – luckily she isn’t aware of tragedy in the world yet. But it gave me reason to pause.
8:19 AM CST: PZhang Our hearts go to the the families of astronauts. God bless them!
7:56 AM CST: Neil God Bless the Astronauts, their families and friends, NASA, and all of America! What a sad event. We must refocus our efforts and energies. We leave behind no greater gifts that a willingness to learn, to explore, to move ahead! Or else, we will fall behind!
7:54 AM CST: A fan of space exploration Honor the fallen by continuing the space program. Our hero’s died doing what they loved with people the cared for and a cause they believed in.
7:47 AM CST: Suzie What happened is a tragedy. But the space program is essential and those astronauts knew this & gave their lives. Don’t let them die in vain.
5:47 AM CST: anthony burns Why couldent inspect the space craft before rentry. if something wrong, send up another shuttle. for the flight crew.
4:59 AM CST: Tia I was just a little little kid, around 3 when the first explosion took place so this is my first time to know about the explosion of this one and I have shown tribute to the fallen astronaunts on my yahoo groups with mourning colors. May all rest in peace…
4:15 AM CST: Another American They should stop the space program. So many things on earth need our attention. We should deal with the sickness and destruction here. Spend our month wisely. God Bless those souls.
