{"id":4163,"date":"2024-04-24T13:20:32","date_gmt":"2024-04-24T13:20:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/foreverinourhearts\/?p=4163"},"modified":"2024-04-24T13:20:32","modified_gmt":"2024-04-24T13:20:32","slug":"families-of-the-columbia-crew-carry-on-their-loved-ones-legacies-over-20-years-later","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/foreverinourhearts\/2024\/04\/families-of-the-columbia-crew-carry-on-their-loved-ones-legacies-over-20-years-later.html","title":{"rendered":"Families of the Columbia Crew Carry On Their Loved Ones’ Legacies Over 20 Years Later"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"columbia\"<\/a>
NASA\/Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When NASA\u2019s Columbia shuttle launched on January 16, 2003, it carried a crew of seven astronauts who\u2019d spent almost three years getting to know each other before venturing on a 16-day science mission into space. NASA selected astronauts David Brown, Michael Anderson, Laurel Clark, Kalpana Chawla, Rick Husband and William McCool, as well as Iilan Ramon of the Israeli Space Agency for the mission in July 2000.<\/p>\n

During the day, the crew trained together, working on the solidarity that would help them as a team. After work, the crew members and their families would gather for cookouts and laser tag at one another\u2019s homes. The STS-107 mission crew included two women and five men of diverse religions, backgrounds, hobbies and interests. However, instead of letting the differences divide them, the trainees came together and encouraged each other, said Laura Husband, daughter of STS-107 Commander Rick Husband. She told CNN, \u201cI grew up seeing this beautiful picture of all these different perspectives, and they loved each other and worked well together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before the launch, the crew went on an outdoor team-building trip in Wyoming. As the shuttle commander, Rick thought it would help the team bond. Laura said, \u201cI watched my dad really build a team, and he did that with our family, too. He was a good leader and a good team player.\u201d After launching to space, the crew split into two teams to conduct dozens of round-the-clock experiments and gather valuable science data while taking time to exchange emails and enjoy a couple of video calls with their families.<\/p>\n

When\u00a0Columbia reentered Earth\u2019s atmosphere<\/a>\u00a0on February 1, 2003, the shuttle broke apart over Texas as a result of damage from a foam strike on the shuttle\u2019s left wing after liftoff, and the crew was tragically lost. Now, more than two decades after the loss of the Columbia astronauts, their family members continue to honor the memories and legacies of their loved ones. Rick Husband and his future wife, Evelyn, grew up a mile down the road from one another in Amarillo, Texas. They went to the same high school, but they didn\u2019t begin dating until after running into each other in college during a basketball game at Texas Tech University.<\/p>\n