Columbia Lost.

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A sad day here in Tennessee.    :-(

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http://www.amiworld.it/interviste/green/HalInterview-eng.html

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IRAQIS CALL SHUTTLE DISASTER GOD'S VENGEANCE February 2, 2003
 
 Reuters reports: “Immediate popular reaction in Baghdad on Saturday to the loss of the U.S. space shuttle Columbia and its seven-member crew -- including the first Israeli in space -- was that it was God's retribution.
‘We are happy that it broke up,’ government employee Abdul Jabbar al-Quraishi said.

‘God wants to show that his might is greater than the Americans. They have encroached on our country. God is avenging us,’ he said...

Car mechanic Mohammed Jaber al-Tamini noted Israeli air force Colonel Ilan Ramon was among the dead when the shuttle broke up over the southwestern United States 16 minutes before its scheduled landing.

The 48-year-old Israeli astronaut was a fighter pilot in the Israeli air force. He was the youngest pilot in a team that bombed Iraq's nuclear reactor in 1981. Israel said the reactor was intended to develop nuclear weapons.

‘Israel launched an aggression on us when it raided our nuclear reactor without any reason, now time has come and God has retaliated to their aggression,’ Tamini said.

There were no such signs of jubilation over the shuttle disaster in any of the Palestinian territories. The official response from the Palestinians was one of condolence.

‘President (Yasser) Arafat and the Palestinian Authority offer their condolences to the six American families and the Israeli family who lost their loved ones in the catastrophe,’ Saeb Erekat, a senior Palestinian official and spokesman, told Reuters.

Erekat said Arafat had sent President Bush a message of condolences over the loss of the NASA space agency's shuttle. The United States, Israel's closest ally, is the chief Middle East peace broker…”
 
 :-o

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Like so many Israelis yesterday, I've stopped everything and turned on the TV, intending to see live the return of the Columbia and it's seven astronouts - among them one of our finest, who became these last few weeks almost a family member to every Israeli household.
I was watching Channel 2 - Ilan Ramon's old father sat at the table of the studio, waiting for his son to land, after making a small history and, once more, making him proud.
He was speaking about his son in a way only fathers do - a way that makes teenage boys a bit embaraced, and mumble "Cmmon, Dad, I'm not THAT great..."

And then the comm link broke.

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It's hard for me to describe what I felt, but when I saw the old man's face changing from bliss to grief in an instant, I understood once more that despite everything else - that astronouts are dear to most of us; that almost all of us regret every innocent life that's lost (except a few Iraqis, if the above post is true); that for Israelis Ramon became a beloved hero - despite all of this, first and formost it's a loss to the families.
For them, nothing will be the same anymore.

I'm an Israeli, so I should be a bit more emune to tragedy - God knows I've seen enough - but tears are coming down my face as I write this.

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We must continue the Space Program.
Not only for the things that we've already got from it, but mainly for the things that we have yet to gain.
We don't even know what they are, yet.

We must reach for the Stars.



Good night to you all.

Moshe Papismedov,
Israel

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@Papissmed


Sorry about your loss.

I feel the same way that you feel.
I, personally think that Israel is a very special place, along with the people there.

Everytime I turn the television on, everyone is fighting over there.
I sure wished that everyone could forget about thier differences and love one another.

I wished that there was an easy way for peace.
I wished the world could live in peace forever, and love thier neighbors, but I guess that's just dreaming as long as I'm on this earth in this body of flesh.

One day though, I know Israel will be free, and other people will be too.  

 :-)

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I still remember what I was doing when the Challenger was destroyed. The Columbia shuttle diaster will be the same, forever etched in memory.

Hopefully no one will forget, the puzzle will be solved, and the space program will move forward. Personally, I would like to see a whole new system designed and built, using  an entirely different power and propulsion system, based on cutting edge science and technology. Reaction systems are reaching their limits. I can hope, though, and now maybe this diaster will be the nudge to move forward in this way.

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Thank you all for your response.
It is nice to hear so many different people feeling the same way about something, in such a torn-apart world.


@ Mountain_Myst:

There are very few things that most of the Israelis (and I have no doubt that most Palestinians, too) want more than peace.
In the last few years most of us also realize that the peace agreement should include a Palestinian state.
So I think there's hope, yet - although this is probably the most dificult time I remember (I'm 33).


@ cecilia:

It's not about Logic and Common Sense - it's about Hate.
I can only asure you that many Arabs (Israeli Palestinians)  that I personaly know are among the kindest and nicest people I've ever met, and I'm proud for knowing them.
Unfortunatly, there are the other kind, too.
And THOSE are deadly.
I admit it is hard for me to remember this, sometimes (when a relative of mine was blown to bits in Tel-Aviv, driving a Bus; When a mother and her tow children were murdered in their sleep at point blank; ... ), but there are many decent Arabs who just want to live their lives, and are cought in these events.


@ Billsey:

Amen.


@ KennyR:

I'm sorry you feel that way.
We think we're just trying to survive.
I think you are completely wrong, and I have my arguments, but I think this is not the time or place to get into that.
If you want to hear (or read) what I have to say, you'r welcome:

papiss@netvision.net.il

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@ Nick:

1. STS 107.

2. I thought of tile-sensors two, but then I realized that it's not practical:
Too many tiles, sending too much information - more systems that can go wrong.
Wiring, that needs rebuilding of a whole chassis,  and ads to the over-all weight.

It may be practical in a new shuttle, though (if they don't use some new insulation technique).

3. I remember the Chalenger. I was 17.