Kia Ora-

So what do you say after something like this that hasn't already been said? I can only share some of my reflections on the events of the past 40 hours.

Of course, ever since waking up to specifically watch the landing on Saturday morning only to be faced with the sobering news, I really can't add anything other than continued prayers, thoughts, and grief. In this time of threats of terroist attacks and impending war, it is that much harder to accept the fact that this was just a mistake...an accident. The truth is that there is no one to blame. This great loss is just that, a great loss. Not only to the space program, not only to the USA, not even to the world as a collective of countries and ideologies--but a great loss to all mankind.

I've heard the phrase 'senseless tragedy' being used many times. I have difficulty with this because that term is usually reserved for victims of preventable, foreseeable events (such as murder). This was not such an event. This was a loss which was the result of the untested, unknown possibilty, in the same vein as pioneers and explorers. While I don't believe that the loss of human life is an 'acceptable risk' if that is the goal of the risk, I do strongly believe in the nobility of their intent in the name of exploration, knowledge, and science for all mankind. These people are already heroes for going into the unknown willingly, and now martyrs for their great sacrifice. From the great Yuri Gagarin and all the brave cosmonauts who namelessly gave their lives down through the heroic crew of STS-107, let them never be forgotten.

And there is one great, overlooked loss that we are dealing with now, and that is of the Space Shuttle Columbia. For those of you who don't remember, Columbia was the flagship of the shuttle program. It was the first to be launched (yes, there was a full scale mock up called Enterprise that did glide to a landing, but it never went in to space) and orbit the Earth. It was unique in look because it had black runners along the wings that distinguished it from the other four ships. (Generally, the shuttle program had four ships at any one time, Endevour being built to replace Challenger.) Columbia had been in service just shy of 22 years and the host of over 28 missions. On a personal note, Columbia was the first actual working spaceship I ever saw in person, and that was during a trip to Cape Canaveral as Columbia was being prepped for STS-5. It was an awesome, inspiring sight for a 12 year old boy. All the shuttles are beautiful creations, amazing living pieces of machinery. The loss of Columbia was tragic and she will be missed and honoured forever.

I was blessed to already have had plans to spend this weekend with my loved ones in New Port Richey, and it was comforting to be around friends. We live so close to where they launch from--we can see virtually every shuttle launch (even past the point of booster seperation where the shuttle is running on it's three boosters) and many a landing (which is often right over head). At work we give to the United Way charities every year and my chosen charity is The Astronauts Memorial Foundation, something that I've always felt strongly about. Often when I'd turn on the TV this weekend I'd see news reports from Paul's and various other favourite places of ours in Titusville, and see the great sadness in the faces of the people in the town. It's hard not to feel this loss on a personal level. Not a senseless loss but a great loss of mourning...and yet, an even greater feeling of respect and honour.

Heart, sorrow, faith, and honour,

-N.