From the CNN web site: The space shuttle Columbia, with seven astronauts aboard, broke up as it descended over central Texas today before a planned landing at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A Bush administration spokesman said the shuttle’s altitude — over 200,000 feet — made it “highly unlikely” that the shuttle fell victim to a terrorist act.
I find it almost as sad that CNN feels it necessary to address the terrorist connection in the second line of the lead paragraph. I remember the Challenger – in many ways, I feel that the Challenger disaster was a defining moment for my generation – and I don’t recall there being much talk of terrorist activities in connection with the disaster. In fact, I recently came across a terrifying essay on how the Challenger disaster was allowed to happen because no one wants to be the bearer of bad news; several levels of authority either hid, ignored, or spun test results that suggested the O-rings were unreliable in certain conditions, namely, the conditions of the Challenger launch.
Watching CNN this morning brought back many emotions from 1986. I guess the difference this time is that we know it can happen; in ’86, the shuttle was new and symbolic of technological advance and humanity’s progress, at least as seen through the eyes of a 16-year-old. I found it hard to be as affected this morning, especially with the “terrorist act” thing. Okay, I can see why current events would perhaps lead one to speculate, and the presence of Col. Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli astronaut, was cause enough for concern for NASA to provide extra security for the shuttle prior to launch.
Pehaps such speculation and concern is justifiable; but on one level I can’t help but feel that just the mention of it in this context is all part of the Wag the Dog scenario Bush et al are inhabiting.
Hubby made a very interesting, poignant point: the Challenger astronauts never had a chance; the Columbia crew got to have 16 days in heaven. Let’s hope that’s where they have returned, and may their souls forever soar.