Comments on Columbia

The families of the space shuttle Columbia

We hear that pieces of the Columbia have landed on SFA and your community. For what it's worth the astronauts and the Columbia at least fell among friends. A great tragedy.
I hope all is well there with you and SFA.

Dwight E. Neuenschwander

Thought I would drop you guys a note. The topic for the seminar is strikingly ominous considering the events of the past few days. I'm assuming the topic was probably scheduled in advance. SFA had a personal connection with this flight, STS-107, through myself. I was the EVA task lead for this flight. I was responsible for training, Michael Anderson, David Brown, and Laurel Clark for EVA contingency scenarios. Saturday was extremely surreal for me. Reality is slowly sinking in, but everytime I see on-orbit video or photos, I find myself thinking they will be returning any moment. Pass along my greetings to everyone in the faculty there that may remember me.

John Raines

Hi Dan, Thanks for sending that. I can't even begin to imagine what it must have been like for all of you at the epicenter of the tragedy. Please give my best wishes to all.

Jeff Bennett

Dear Dan, Jeff forwarded me your message, and I read Ed Michael's account. It was so moving. I could never have imagined that I would spend three days in the company of astronomers, and in Nacogdoches of all places! I feel so lucky to know all of you.

Warmest regards,

Alison Romike

There is some good info here. It was a great tragedy for the entire nation and one we will not soon forget. I hope all is going well with you and your family. I spoke with Ed about tickets to the Hawking lecture and he told me he was sending out invitations to our neighboring colleagues. If something doesn't show up soon, just let me know.

Regards,

Dr. George W. Kattawar