ShuttleEmail

The last email sent to the Earth from the Space Shuttle Columbia by Laurel Clark:

I have seen some incredible sights: lightning spreading over the Pacific, the Aurora Australis lighting up the entire visible horizon with the cityglow of Australia below, the crescent moon setting over the limb of the Earth, the vast plains of Africa and the dunes on Cape Horn, rivers breaking through tall mountain passes, the scars of humanity, the continuous line of life extending from North America, through Central America and into South America, a crescent moon setting over the limb of our blue planet…. Whenever I do get to look out, it is glorious. Even the stars have a special brightness. — Friday, Jan. 31, 2003

I’ven’t been struck by the Shuttle disaster as much as I though I would or should be. I’ve always been interested in aviation and space, so I follow all of these things closely. I do think its horrendous that people did die, but I think that the astronauts knew there was a pretty conceivable risk that they wouldn’t be coming home in one piece.

While, my thoughts and feelings go out to the families, I also realize that we’ve just gotta move on with our lives. The astronauts should be commemorated for giving their lives to science, but also for being such astute and poetic observers of the world in which we live, and the space in which that world exists.

They are people who dared to dream, and devote a significant part of their lives towards making their dreams come true. They are people were daring enough to live their dreams and not follow what was laid out for them.

They are a testament to the human spirit, imagination, and dream.