Submitted February 2, 2004, 1:11 AM
What were your thoughts and feelings when you heard that Columbia was lost?
I received an update message on my cell phone that communication had been lost with Columbia. I quickly turned on the TV and say the stream of debris flying across the sky. I remember falling to my knees in disbelief and shock. Such a sick feeling just watching the debris, knowing there was nothing to be done. My wife, daughter, and I had just returned from a trip to Florida. While there I went to the Cape for the tour and saw Columbia waiting to lift off the next day. We watched the Columbia launch on its final mission the next day, and it was so exciting.
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If you are old enough to remember, please compare your responses to other important moments in space travel like the Challenger disaster and the moon walk.
I was born in 1971. I do remember watching a moon shot on the TV when I was very young. I've never lived in a world without people in space.
I didn't actually know about the Challenger disaster until the next morning. We were living in Germany at the time without a TV. When I did find out, I remember hoping that we would still continue to explore space. I didn't actually see the footage of the disaster until years later. Oddly enough, I remember feeling so bad for the teacher that had been aboard. I had a teacher in 6th grade that was trying out for that position. It could have been him was what I thought then.
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Have your views of space travel changed over time?
I am still very interested and excited by space travel. However, I now have a much deeper appreciation for the danger these brave explorers face even today. I also marvel and the imagination and the ingenuity of those who first got us into space and then on to the moon.
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