The heartbreak of Feb. 1, 2003 news was encapsulated in one sentence: The space shuttle Columbia broke up this morning on re-entry into the earth’s atmosphere, killing all seven astronauts on board and sending fiery debris over Texas in the second loss of a space shuttle in 17 years.
Today as the people of the United States of America mourn their latest losses of human lives, hundreds of millions of other people around the world join them. When the news came this Saturday past that the space shuttle Columbia was lost, our immediate reaction was No! Not again”.
As the reality of the event struck home, we were at first disconsolate in our grief over this tragedy. But, then, as we reflected on the matter, we were comforted with the reminder that we should in all things give thanks.
Today, therefore, we join others who pray for the composure of the souls of Michael P. Anderson, payload commander, Dr. David Brown, Dr. Laurel Blair, Rick D. Husband, shuttle commander, William C. McCool, pilot, Kalpana Chawla, mission specialist and Ilan Ramon, payload specialist. Left to mourn these seven wonderful people are their neighbours, family and friends. In this hour of pain and loss, we join all those who mourn. Sincere in the belief that while ‘weeping might last for the night, joy will come in the morning.
Information reaching us reveals that prayers for the repose of the souls of the seven dead men and women are now coming in from around the world. Friends and foes alike of the United States of America are united in grieving this loss to humanity. When all is said and done, the human family is one. In its struggles and in its triumphs, it knows joys and sorrows. As the Associated Press notes: “A day after the space shuttle Columbia burned up on re-entry, more world leaders sent condolences to the United States and the families of the seven crew members who died.
“Chinese President Jiang Zemin sent President Bush a message saying he was deeply saddened by the disaster, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. He also sent a message to Israeli President Moshe Katsav.
“Jiang said he believed that mankind would continue to make further progress in space exploration despite the setback, Xinhua reported, reflection of China’s hopes to send its first astronauts into space this year.
“The Columbia disintegrated over Texas on Saturday, minutes before it was to land in Florida.
“The seven crew members, including Israel’s first astronaut and the first Indian-born woman in space, died.
“In Karnal, India, the birthplace of crew member Kalpana Chawla, jubilation turned to sorrow. She emigrated to the United States in the 1980s and became an astronaut in 1994.
ﾠ”Yesterday evening we came her to celebrate her arrival. But, when we heard this news we were really shocked,” said 18-year-old Vivek Nagpal.
“Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said in his condolences to President Bush on Saturday that the fact that one of the astronauts was from India “adds a special poignancy to the tragedy.”
“Israeli Ilan Ramon’s role in the mission held special significance for his troubled country, where spirits were lifted when he blasted off last month on Columbia.
“Ramon, 48, as an air force colonel and the son of a Holocaust survivor.
“We got another slap in the face, as a nation, in addition to the slap we get every day,” said Gabi Moor, 39, a barber from northern Israel whose shop is next to a caf� damaged last year in one of nearly 90 Palestinian suicide bombings. “It’s like there is a jinx on us.”
“Pope John Paul II invited all to pray for the astronauts, and said the explosion “stirs up strong emotion in everyone,” John Paul said in an appearance from his studio window overlooking St. Peter’s Square, which was crowded with pilgrims and tourists.
“I invite all to pray for the victims of the accident, experts in carrying out an international scientific mission, the Pope said.
“Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi delivered his prayers to Bush.
“The accident will immediately affect Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi, who was to fly on NASA’s next shuttle mission, planned for March 1. U.S. officials have suspended all shuttle flights during the investigation of the Columbia accident.
“Condolences also came in from Afghanistan and Cuba.
“The Afghan people are very sad for our brothers in the United States and we share their grief,” said Sayed Fazel Akbar, a spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
“The Cuban people join the American people in their sorrow and grieve for the deaths of some of their sons and daughter,” read a statement from the Cuban Foreign Ministry.”
These condolences are among the many which have already been sent. They have been joined by a statement of grief and regret from prime minister the Hon. Perry Christie. For our part, we want the American people to know of our own sense of pain and loss as we remember the brave men and women on Columbia who gave their all in service to humanity. Your pain is ours. We share your grief.
For now – though – while we know America hurts, we know, too, that Man must continue to explore the heavens so that he can know his true vocation in the universe. The sky remains the limit.
Editorial, The Bahama Journal
