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Columbia crew members were role models for NASA community and beyond
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This week’s report on the Columbia disaster focused on issues with the hardware put in place to protect the crew.
The following memorials offer the chance to get to know the astronauts who were on board.
Cmdr. Rick Husband
After graduating from Amarillo High School in 1975, Husband went to Texas Tech University where he received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1980. He was a member of the school's Air Force ROTC, which culminated with a commission as a second lieutenant in the Air Force.
While at Texas Tech, he sent a letter to NASA asking about requirements to become an astronaut. "I got a package back, and it told about the pilots and the mission specialists and the requirements that were necessary," he said. "And so, that kind of laid the pathway for what I needed to do if I wanted to be a pilot-astronaut."
During his tenure in the Air Force, Husband logged more than 3,800 hours of flight time in more than 40 different types of aircraft and served as a flight instructor and a test pilot. He also earned a master's degree in mechanical engineering in 1990 from California State University, Fresno.
After applying four times and being interviewed twice, NASA selected Husband as an astronaut candidate in December 1994. He reported to Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, in March 1995.
"And so, it was the achievement of a lifelong dream and a goal," he said. "And, it's very humbling, I'd say, and exciting at the same time to be able to actually go and do the kind of thing that I'd wanted to do and the thing that I had looked forward to doing for such a long time."
His first space flight occurred in May and June 1999 when he served as pilot for the 10-day STS-96 mission. That was the first time that a space shuttle docked with the International Space Station.
Husband was commander of his second trip to space, STS-107 -- a mission devoted to research. The seven-member STS-107 crew conducted more than 80 experiments during its 16 days in space.
Husband and the STS-107 crew died on Feb. 1, 2003, over north central Texas during Space Shuttle Columbia's re-entry. Columbia was only about 16 minutes away from landing in Florida.
Husband was respected by his peers in the astronaut corps. Astronaut Office Chief Kent Rominger was the commander of Husband's first mission. During a memorial ceremony at Johnson Space Center on Feb. 4, 2003, he said that Husband was a great leader.
"Rick was a terrific human being and a great leader," Rominger said. "... He molded seven individuals from different parts of the world with diverse backgrounds, various religious beliefs, into an incredibly tight-knit and productive family."
In his life outside of NASA, Husband was known for his love for his family and his religious faith. He leaves behind his wife and two children. Prior to STS-107 he was asked in an interview what was the most memorable experience outside of his astronaut career.
"Well, I think apart from NASA," Husband said, "the most enjoyable part of my life has been my time with my family."
One of Husband's hobbies was singing. He sang most of his life: beginning as member in the church choir as a kid, to singing in the Texas Tech choir and as a member of the choir in his church in the Houston area.
President George W. Bush best summed up Husband's life during the memorial service.
"Rick Husband was a boy of four when he first thought of being an astronaut," Bush said. "As a man and having become an astronaut, he found it was even more important to love his family and serve his Lord."
Pilot William McCool
Before U.S. Navy Commander William McCool began his 16-day scientific mission, he explained what was most important about the work he would be doing in space.
"Most of what we're doing is enabling technology for the future," he said. "And the folks who are going to use that technology and then continue the wheels turning are the children today. There's no greater experience, at least in my career thus far, than to see the excitement and the eyes light up when you talk to kids about experiments."
McCool was born in San Diego, Calif., in 1961. After graduating from Coronado High School, Lubbock, Texas, in 1979, McCool went to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. He graduated in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in applied science, and then, went on to earn a master's degree in computer science in 1985 from the University of Maryland, and a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in 1992.
In 1986, McCool began his flying career with the Navy. He flew 24 different aircraft, including the EA-6B Prowler, and had more than 400 carrier landings. He became a test pilot in 1992. The pilot served on two aircraft carriers, the USS Coral Sea and the USS Enterprise, and had more than 2,800 hours of flight time.
McCool became an astronaut candidate and reported to Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, in 1996. McCool said his experiences in the Navy helped with his transition to NASA.
"We operate as a crew in the same way as we did back in my Navy days in the EA-6B Prowler," he said. "The Astronaut Office, the folks here at JSC, operate in the same fashion that we had learned to operate as a team within the squadron and within the air wing. So I think [they] dovetail quite well."
STS-107 was the first space flight for Pilot William McCool, who joined the astronaut corps in 1996. This feature video was produced before STS-107 launched on Jan. 16, 2003.
While at NASA, McCool gained the respect of his peers. According to Astronaut Office Chief Kent Rominger, McCool was a talented astronaut and was known for his respect for others.
"Willie was incredibly humble, with exceptional talents," Rominger said. "He was especially gifted at quickly learning and mastering technical information, but was also known for his tremendous consideration for others. He enjoyed surprising people with flowers and Hawaiian leis."
McCool's first flight was STS-107 -- a mission that featured more than 80 experiments. McCool, who served as pilot, and his six crewmates perished as Space Shuttle Columbia broke up over Texas while re-entering Earth's atmosphere on Feb. 1, 2003. He spent 15 days, 22 hours and 20 minutes in space.
In his life outside of NASA, McCool enjoyed spending time outdoors with his wife and sons. "My most enjoyable experience is: I really can't pinpoint one," he said. "But I can kind of say as a category my most enjoyable experiences are going out with my wife and my boys back-country backpacking in the Olympic Mountains or … the canyon lands in Utah and just enjoying life without outside distractions. And enjoying each other, and enjoying the environment. And we love to do that frequently, whenever we can."
During a memorial service held at Johnson Space Center, Texas, President George W. Bush described McCool as dependable and respected by his friends. "The Columbia's pilot was Cmdr. Willie McCool whom friends knew as the most steady and dependable of men," Bush said. "In Lubbock today they're thinking back to the Eagle Scout who became a distinguished naval officer and a fearless test pilot. One friend remembers Willie this way, 'He was blessed. And we were blessed to know him.'"
Near the end of his flight, on Jan. 29, 2003, McCool and some of his crewmates were awakened by John Lennon's classic song "Imagine." He had these words about the unique view of Earth that he and his crewmates had from Columbia and their hopes for humanity: "From our orbital vantage point, we observe an Earth without borders, full of peace, beauty and magnificence, and we pray that humanity as a whole can imagine a borderless world as we see it, and strive to live as one in peace."
Payload Cmdr. Michael Anderson
"Michael Anderson always wanted to fly planes and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Air Force," President George W. Bush said. "Along the way, he became a role model, especially for his two daughters and for the many children he spoke to in schools. He said to them, 'Whatever you want to be in life, you're training for it now.'"
And U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Michael Anderson did prepare early in life for being an astronaut.
He was born in 1959 in Plattsburgh, N.Y., but he considered Spokane, Wash., to be his hometown. His dad was in the Air Force, and Anderson was exposed to aviation as a kid. He said that science caught his attention when he was young. These interests were two of the reasons why he wanted to be an astronaut.
"… at that time, we were going to the Moon and doing some really fantastic things with the space program," he said. "And, to me that was just the best combination of the two. You know, here you have these men that are scientists, engineers, and they're also flying these wonderful airplanes and these great spaceships, and they're going places. And to me, that just seemed like the perfect mix and the perfect job. So, very early on, I just thought being an astronaut would be a fantastic thing to do."
While at Cheney High School in Cheney, Wash., Anderson said he began to think about what college to go to and what to major in so that he could have a shot at becoming an astronaut. He decided to pick a science field that was broad.
"I picked physics because out of all the different scientific fields, I think physics is probably the broadest," he said. "It covers basically everything. It allows you to really take your interest and point it in any direction you'd like to point [it] in. So, I went to the University of Washington as a physics and astronomy major. And just had a marvelous time. I found it very challenging, very rewarding.
"My other interest, of course, was aviation. I always wanted to be a pilot. I wanted to fly airplanes. And, if you're going to fly airplanes, the best place to be is the Air Force. So, I went through the ROTC program there, and they provided me with a scholarship to help me pay for college."
Anderson earned a bachelor's degree in physics/astronomy from Washington in 1981. Then, he received a commission from the U.S. Air Force as a second lieutenant.
During his stint in the Air Force, Anderson received a master's degree in physics in 1990 from Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. Anderson flew various models of the KC-135 and the T-38A aircraft, logging more than 3,000 hours of flight time. He also became an instructor pilot.
Anderson got a step closer to fulfilling his dream of becoming an astronaut in late 1994 when NASA selected him as an astronaut candidate.
"… you just sort of pursue your interests," he said, "and you pray about it, and hopefully one day all things will kind of fall into place. And you'll have a chance to make those dreams come true. And fortunately for me, it did happen that way."
In the same preflight interview, he went on to say that he hasn't been disappointed, "And it's been a marvelous adventure. I've enjoyed every bit of it."
Anderson's first space flight occurred in 1998 when he flew as a mission specialist on Space Shuttle Endeavour during STS-89. That flight was the eighth Shuttle/Mir mission. Anderson spent 8 days, 19 hours and 47 minutes in space.
In 2003, he made his second trip into space on Space Shuttle Columbia during STS-107. He served as the STS-107 payload commander. More than 80 experiments were conducted during the flight.
Astronaut Office Chief Kent Rominger said that Anderson was the right man for the job of STS-107 payload commander. "He was a perfect choice for the payload commander," he said. "Organized, thorough, someone you could absolutely count on, a gifted leader."
Anderson and his six crewmates perished on Feb. 1, 2003, as Columbia broke up over Texas during re-entry, about 16 minutes before landing. STS-107 spent 15 days, 22 hours and 20 minutes in space, giving him a total of 24 days, 18 hours and 7 minutes in space.
Anderson is survived by his wife and children.
Mission Specialist Dave Brown
U.S. Navy Capt. David Brown was born April 16, 1956, in Arlington, Va. While growing up he didn't have a specific dream of becoming an astronaut. Although he thought that being an astronaut would be a good job, he didn't think it was possible.
"I was a little bit late for Mercury, but I remember Gemini and Apollo quite well in the Sixties, and then Skylab and early shuttle," he said in a preflight interview. "But I absolutely couldn't identify with the people who were astronauts. I thought they were movie stars. And I just thought I was kind of a normal kid. And so I couldn't see a path how a normal kid could ever get to be one of these people that I just couldn't identify with. And so, while I would've said, 'Hey, this is like the coolest thing you could possibly do,' it really wasn't something that I ever thought that I would end up doing."
However, he did have an interest in science and flying that would eventually lead him on a path to becoming an astronaut. It was later in life that his idea about becoming an astronaut would change.
"And, it was really kind of much later in life after I'd been in medical school, I'd gone on to become a Navy pilot, that I really thought, 'Well, maybe I would have some skills and background that NASA might be interested in,'" Brown said. "And then I went ahead and applied. So, I think growing up I really underestimated myself. And I was really a bit wrong about things that I could do, and I'm glad I figured out kind of later in life that if I wanted to pursue that, that I could."
Brown graduated from Arlington's Yorktown High School in 1974 and then went to college at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va. While at William and Mary, Brown was a member of the Tribe's varsity gymnastics team. He said his gymnastics coach had an influence that helped him later in life.
"He was a fellow that really took, actually did -- and still does -- take a very long-term view of what athletics and education are all about. And, he's just been investing in people in that program ever since," Brown said. "When I look back now, and I think I understand a little more what he was doing now than at the time, he invests in people and gives a lot of his time and attention. He certainly did to me. I learned a lot about what it's to be, what it's like to be on a team. What you need to know to be on a team. About setting personal goals. And about [having the] daily discipline to get to those goals."
Brown also used his athletic talents during college to work as an acrobat, 7-foot unicyclist and stilt walker for Circus Kingdom.
After graduating from William and Mary with a bachelor's degree in biology, he went to Eastern Virginia Medical School, where he earned a doctorate in medicine in 1982. He performed his internship in South Carolina and went to the U.S. Navy flight surgeon school in 1984.
In 1988, Brown became the only flight surgeon to be selected for pilot training in a 10-year period. He completed his training and became a naval aviator in 1990, ranking first in his class. He logged 1,700 hours of flight time in high-performance military aircraft during his stint with the Navy. He said that being a pilot and doctor was beneficial for him.
"As a physician and as a pilot, I think it lets me be a pretty good translator, having one foot in the medical world and one foot in the flying world," he said. "Sometimes when the medical guys come in and speak medical stuff to the pilots, the pilots really don't know what they're saying. And vice versa."
In 1996, his talents took him to NASA when he was selected as an astronaut candidate. Brown became qualified as a pilot for NASA's T-38 aircraft.
In a preflight interview, Brown said that as an astronaut, he hoped to help in the advancement of science. "Whatever I can do to contribute to science, to improve science, I think is really great," he said.
His first space flight was on Space Shuttle Columbia as a mission specialist during STS-107, an extended-duration mission devoted to scientific research. The STS-107 crew conducted more than 80 experiments during its stay in space.
Brown and his six crewmates perished over Texas on Feb. 1 as Columbia was re-entering Earth's atmosphere. Columbia was about 16 minutes from landing in Florida. Brown spent 15 days, 22 hours and 20 minutes in space.
Astronaut Office Chief Kent Rominger said that Brown was known as "Doc" to friends and that he loved to take pictures and had a great sense of humor.
"Doc also loved cameras and always had a camera with him," Rominger said, "riding out to the pad I've never seen anybody as intense at making sure he filmed every bit of what was going on with his crew as Doc. Usually when he was filming folks, he would tell them, 'Just act like a little brown squirrel.'
"He also had a keen sense of humor and after one demanding simulator run, turned to [Flight Engineer Kalpana Chawla] and asked, 'May I borrow your brain?' This comment illustrates his humility, because it was well known in the Astronaut Office that he was extremely capable."
President George W. Bush summed up Brown's achievements and life during a memorial service at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, on Feb. 4, 2003.
"David Brown was first drawn to the stars as a little boy with a telescope in his backyard," Bush said. "He admired astronauts, but as he said, 'I thought they were movie stars. I thought I was kind of a normal kid.' David grew up to be a physician, an aviator who could land on the deck of a carrier in the middle of the night, and a shuttle astronaut.
"His brother asked him several weeks ago what would happen if something went wrong on their mission," Bush continued. "David replied, 'This program will go on.'"
Mission Specialist Kalpana Chawla
Kalpana Chawla's path to become an astronaut began in Karnal, India.
"None of our astronauts traveled a longer path to space than Kalpana Chawla," U.S. President George W. Bush said. "She left India as a student but she would see the nation of her birth, all of it, from hundreds of miles above."
Chawla knew that she wanted to be an aerospace engineer at an early age. She was influenced by watching the planes from the local flying clubs and by her father.
"Every once in a while," Chawla said, "we'd ask my dad if we could get a ride in one of these planes. And, he did take us to the flying club and get us a ride in the Pushpak and a glider that the flying club had."
She graduated from Tagore School, Karnal, India, in 1976 and received a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering from India's Punjab Engineering College in 1982.
Then, she moved to the United States to go to graduate school at the University of Texas-Arlington, where she received a master's degree in aerospace engineering in 1984. Then, she moved to Boulder, Colo., to pursue a doctorate in aerospace engineering, which she received in 1988.
Her career with NASA began in 1988 when she went to work for the Ames Research Center in California. Chawla's work at Ames centered on powered-lift computational fluid dynamics, which involves aircraft like the Harrier.
She left Ames in 1993 to join Overset Methods Inc. in Los Altos, Calif., as vice president and research scientist. She headed a team of researchers specializing in simulation of moving multiple body problems. Her work at Overset resulted in development and implementation of efficient techniques to perform aerodynamic optimization.
However, the successful career outside of NASA was brief. The agency selected her as an astronaut candidate in December 1994, and she reported to Johnson Space Center in March 1995.
Her first flight was STS-87, the fourth U.S Microgravity Payload flight, on Space Shuttle Columbia from Nov. 19 to Dec. 5, 1997. She was a mission specialist and operated Columbia's robot arm.
She returned to space in Jan. 16, 2003, aboard Columbia. She served as mission specialist during the 16-day research flight. The STS-107 crew conducted more than 80 experiments.
Chawla and her six STS-107 crewmates perished Feb. 1, 2003, over Texas as Columbia was re-entering Earth's atmosphere en route to a landing at Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
Chawla is survived by her husband. Her interests included hiking and backpacking. She also enjoyed flying. She held a Certificated Flight Instructor's license with airplane and glider ratings, Commercial Pilot's licenses for single- and multi-engine land and seaplanes, and Gliders, and instrument rating for airplanes.
In a memorial service on Feb. 4, 2003, Astronaut Office Chief Kent Rominger said that Chawla loved her work and was respected by her colleagues.
"Kalpana, or K.C. to her friends, was admired personally for her extraordinary kindness and technically for her strive for perfection," he said. "She had a terrific sense of humor and loved flying small airplanes with her husband and loved flying in space. Flying was her passion. She would often remind her crew as her training flow would be delayed and become extended, she would say, 'Man, you are training to fly in space. What more could you want?'"
During an STS-107 preflight interview, she was asked who inspired her. She responded that she was motivated by people who are giving it their all.
"I think inspiration and tied with it is motivation," she said. "For me, definitely, it comes every day from people in all walks of life. It's easy for me to be motivated and inspired by seeing somebody who just goes all out to do something."
Chawla was a motivated person who made an impression on others.
"When the sad news reached her hometown," Bush said, "an administrator at her high school recalled, 'She always said she wanted to reach the stars. She went there and beyond.' Kalpana's native country mourns her today and so does her adopted land."
Mission Specialist Laurel Clark
U.S. Navy Captain Laurel Salton Clark's path to becoming an astronaut evolved over time. Clark said that while growing up she had an interest in the environment and animals.
"I was interested in the Moon landings just about the same as everyone else of my generation," she said. "But, I never really thought about being an astronaut or working in space myself. I was very interested in environment and ecosystems and animals."
She said her parents were a huge influence on her life when she was a child. "They always expected the most out of all of us," she said, "and expected us to do our very best."
Clark graduated from William Horlick High School in Racine, Wis., in 1979. The following eight years of her life were spent at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She earned a bachelor's degree in science in zoology in 1983 and doctorate in medicine in 1987.
"… the eight years that I spent at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I have incredibly fond memories of," Clark said. "I did my undergraduate work there in zoology. And then followed it up with the four years in medical school. And it's a beautiful place, with four seasons up in Wisconsin, and really wonderful people."
Her path to becoming an astronaut included being a member of the U.S. Navy. During her time in the Navy, Clark became an undersea medical officer. While stationed in Scotland, she dove with divers and performed numerous medical evacuations from U.S. submarines. Later, she became a flight surgeon.
"I joined the Navy and was exposed to a lot of different operational environments, working on submarines and working in tight quarters on ships, and learning about radiation medicine," Clark said. "And it was really just sort of a natural progression when I learned about NASA and what astronauts do, and the type of things that they are expected to do, that I thought about the things I had done so far and became more interested in that as a career."
NASA selected Clark as an astronaut candidate in 1996. She successfully completed her training and evaluation. Prior to receiving her first flight assignment, she worked in the Astronaut Office Payloads/Habitability Branch.
Clark made her first space flight on Space Shuttle Columbia during STS-107 as a mission specialist. The extended-duration mission was dedicated to scientific research. The STS-107 crew successfully conducted more than 80 experiments. Prior to the start of the mission, she said that the crew would enjoy its view of Earth.
"We're incredibly lucky to be able to be working where we are up above the Earth and being able to see our planet from that vantage point," she said.
On Feb. 1, Clark and the STS-107 crew perished during re-entry as Columbia broke up over Texas en route to a landing in Florida. She amassed 15 days, 22 hours and 20 minutes in space. Astronaut Office Chief Kent Rominger said that Clark had an outgoing personality and loved her work. "Laurel -- the dedicated professional with a wide variety of talents," he said. "She was also the queen of STS-107 paraphernalia. She had a different pastel crew shirt for each day of the week complemented with crew patches and matching crew earrings. She had a perpetual smile, and would never send an e-mail or phone if she could find you in person."
She is survived by her husband and son. She said that her most enjoyable experience outside of her astronaut career was being a mother. "…motherhood's been incredible," she said, "and I tell my son all the time that my most important job is being his mother."
Rominger also said that even though she was devoted to her work, Clark's family was a priority in her life. "But no matter how hectic the day, she inspired us with her ability to always reserve time and energy for her family," he said.
During a memorial service at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, on Feb. 4, 2003, President George W. Bush emphasized Clark's love for her family and her work.
"Laurel Salton Clark was a physician and a flight surgeon who loved adventure, loved her work, loved her husband and her son," he said. "A friend who heard Laurel speaking to Mission Control said there was a smile in her voice. Laurel conducted some of the experiments as Columbia orbited the Earth and described seeing new life emerged from a tiny cocoon. 'Life,' she said, 'continues in a lot of places and life is a magical thing.'"
Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon
When Israel Air Force Colonel Ilan Ramon was asked what it was like to be selected as the first Israeli astronaut, he said that he feels like he is a representative of his home country.
"… I think it's very, very peculiar to be the first Israeli up in space," he said. "Especially because of my background. But my background is kind of a symbol of a lot of other Israelis' background. My mother is a Holocaust survivor. She was in Auschwitz. My father fought for the independence of Israel not so long ago. I was born in Israel and I'm kind of the proof for them, and for the whole Israeli people, that whatever we fought for and we've been going through in the last century -- or maybe in the last two thousand years -- is becoming true.
"And I was talking to a lot of, for instance, Holocaust survivors. And when you talk to these people who are pretty old today, and you tell them that you're going to be in space as an Israeli astronaut, they look at you as a dream that they could have never dreamed of. So, it's very exciting for me to be able to fulfill their dream that they wouldn't dare to dream. So, it is very exciting. Very exciting."
Ramon was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, in June 1954. He graduated from high school in 1972. He then joined the Israel Air Force. He fought in the Yom Kippur War in 1973 and graduated as a fighter pilot from the Israel Air Force Flight School in 1974.
Over the next nine years, he gained experience in flying the A-4, F-16 and Mirage III-C aircraft, which included time training at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. Then, he attended the University of Tel Aviv from 1983 to 1987, where he earned a bachelor's degree in electronics and computer engineering.
He then returned to flying for the air force. Ramon compiled more than 4,000 flight hours in Israeli military aircraft.
In 1997 he was selected to be an astronaut, and he reported to Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, in 1998. He said that he and most Israelis never dreamed of becoming astronauts.
"Well, when I was a kid," Ramon said, "… most of the people wouldn't dream of being an astronaut because it wasn't on the agenda. So I never thought I would've been an astronaut. I'm a pilot, a fighter pilot, in my background. And I love to fly! Flying aircrafts, fighter aircraft, is great. And I was very happy. I've never dreamed to be an astronaut. When I was selected, I really jumped almost to space."
Ramon trained until he made his first space flight in January 2003. He served as a payload specialist during STS-107 aboard Space Shuttle Columbia. The STS-107 crew conducted more than 80 experiments during the scientific research mission.
While in orbit, he talked about the view of planet Earth and the need to take care of it. "The world looks marvelous from up here, so peaceful, so wonderful and so fragile," Ramon said. "The atmosphere is so thin and fragile, and I think all of us have to keep it clean and good. It saves our life and gives our life."
Ramon and his six crewmates perished on Feb. 1, 2003, over Texas as Columbia was re-entering Earth's atmosphere en-route to landing in Florida. Ramon spent 15 days, 22 hours and 20 minutes in space.
According to Astronaut Office Chief Kent Rominger, Ramon was a caring person and enjoyed his time in space and working with his crewmates. "He was also extremely caring," Rominger said. "From orbit, he sent an e-mail encouraging management, me and the other folks to immediately reassign this crew; that he could not imagine being part of or flying with any crew that was more deserving, more talented and more capable."
Ramon is survived by his wife and four children. Outside of his astronaut career, Ramon enjoyed snow skiing. And during a preflight interview, he said seeing the births of his children were among the most exciting moments in his life.
"Another very exciting and peculiar experience was to participate or take part, a small part, in all my four [children's] births," Ramon said. "I was supporting my wife during the births of all my four kids. And this is amazing to see a child born. This is the kind of exciting experience that I was in."
President George W. Bush spoke about Ramon's life and wish for peace during a memorial service on Feb. 4, 2003, at Johnson Space Center. "Ilan Ramon also flew above his home, the land of Israel," Bush said. "He said the quiet that envelops space makes the beauty even more powerful and 'I only hope that the quiet can one day spread to my country.'"
"Ilan was a patriot, the devoted son of a Holocaust survivor, served his country in two wars. Ilan," said his wife Rona, "left us at his peak moment, in his favorite place with people he loved."
The following memorials offer the chance to get to know the astronauts who were on board.
Cmdr. Rick Husband
After graduating from Amarillo High School in 1975, Husband went to Texas Tech University where he received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1980. He was a member of the school's Air Force ROTC, which culminated with a commission as a second lieutenant in the Air Force.
While at Texas Tech, he sent a letter to NASA asking about requirements to become an astronaut. "I got a package back, and it told about the pilots and the mission specialists and the requirements that were necessary," he said. "And so, that kind of laid the pathway for what I needed to do if I wanted to be a pilot-astronaut."
During his tenure in the Air Force, Husband logged more than 3,800 hours of flight time in more than 40 different types of aircraft and served as a flight instructor and a test pilot. He also earned a master's degree in mechanical engineering in 1990 from California State University, Fresno.
After applying four times and being interviewed twice, NASA selected Husband as an astronaut candidate in December 1994. He reported to Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, in March 1995.
"And so, it was the achievement of a lifelong dream and a goal," he said. "And, it's very humbling, I'd say, and exciting at the same time to be able to actually go and do the kind of thing that I'd wanted to do and the thing that I had looked forward to doing for such a long time."
His first space flight occurred in May and June 1999 when he served as pilot for the 10-day STS-96 mission. That was the first time that a space shuttle docked with the International Space Station.
Husband was commander of his second trip to space, STS-107 -- a mission devoted to research. The seven-member STS-107 crew conducted more than 80 experiments during its 16 days in space.
Husband and the STS-107 crew died on Feb. 1, 2003, over north central Texas during Space Shuttle Columbia's re-entry. Columbia was only about 16 minutes away from landing in Florida.
Husband was respected by his peers in the astronaut corps. Astronaut Office Chief Kent Rominger was the commander of Husband's first mission. During a memorial ceremony at Johnson Space Center on Feb. 4, 2003, he said that Husband was a great leader.
"Rick was a terrific human being and a great leader," Rominger said. "... He molded seven individuals from different parts of the world with diverse backgrounds, various religious beliefs, into an incredibly tight-knit and productive family."
In his life outside of NASA, Husband was known for his love for his family and his religious faith. He leaves behind his wife and two children. Prior to STS-107 he was asked in an interview what was the most memorable experience outside of his astronaut career.
"Well, I think apart from NASA," Husband said, "the most enjoyable part of my life has been my time with my family."
One of Husband's hobbies was singing. He sang most of his life: beginning as member in the church choir as a kid, to singing in the Texas Tech choir and as a member of the choir in his church in the Houston area.
President George W. Bush best summed up Husband's life during the memorial service.
"Rick Husband was a boy of four when he first thought of being an astronaut," Bush said. "As a man and having become an astronaut, he found it was even more important to love his family and serve his Lord."
Pilot William McCool
Before U.S. Navy Commander William McCool began his 16-day scientific mission, he explained what was most important about the work he would be doing in space.
"Most of what we're doing is enabling technology for the future," he said. "And the folks who are going to use that technology and then continue the wheels turning are the children today. There's no greater experience, at least in my career thus far, than to see the excitement and the eyes light up when you talk to kids about experiments."
McCool was born in San Diego, Calif., in 1961. After graduating from Coronado High School, Lubbock, Texas, in 1979, McCool went to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. He graduated in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in applied science, and then, went on to earn a master's degree in computer science in 1985 from the University of Maryland, and a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in 1992.
In 1986, McCool began his flying career with the Navy. He flew 24 different aircraft, including the EA-6B Prowler, and had more than 400 carrier landings. He became a test pilot in 1992. The pilot served on two aircraft carriers, the USS Coral Sea and the USS Enterprise, and had more than 2,800 hours of flight time.
McCool became an astronaut candidate and reported to Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, in 1996. McCool said his experiences in the Navy helped with his transition to NASA.
"We operate as a crew in the same way as we did back in my Navy days in the EA-6B Prowler," he said. "The Astronaut Office, the folks here at JSC, operate in the same fashion that we had learned to operate as a team within the squadron and within the air wing. So I think [they] dovetail quite well."
STS-107 was the first space flight for Pilot William McCool, who joined the astronaut corps in 1996. This feature video was produced before STS-107 launched on Jan. 16, 2003.
While at NASA, McCool gained the respect of his peers. According to Astronaut Office Chief Kent Rominger, McCool was a talented astronaut and was known for his respect for others.
"Willie was incredibly humble, with exceptional talents," Rominger said. "He was especially gifted at quickly learning and mastering technical information, but was also known for his tremendous consideration for others. He enjoyed surprising people with flowers and Hawaiian leis."
McCool's first flight was STS-107 -- a mission that featured more than 80 experiments. McCool, who served as pilot, and his six crewmates perished as Space Shuttle Columbia broke up over Texas while re-entering Earth's atmosphere on Feb. 1, 2003. He spent 15 days, 22 hours and 20 minutes in space.
In his life outside of NASA, McCool enjoyed spending time outdoors with his wife and sons. "My most enjoyable experience is: I really can't pinpoint one," he said. "But I can kind of say as a category my most enjoyable experiences are going out with my wife and my boys back-country backpacking in the Olympic Mountains or … the canyon lands in Utah and just enjoying life without outside distractions. And enjoying each other, and enjoying the environment. And we love to do that frequently, whenever we can."
During a memorial service held at Johnson Space Center, Texas, President George W. Bush described McCool as dependable and respected by his friends. "The Columbia's pilot was Cmdr. Willie McCool whom friends knew as the most steady and dependable of men," Bush said. "In Lubbock today they're thinking back to the Eagle Scout who became a distinguished naval officer and a fearless test pilot. One friend remembers Willie this way, 'He was blessed. And we were blessed to know him.'"
Near the end of his flight, on Jan. 29, 2003, McCool and some of his crewmates were awakened by John Lennon's classic song "Imagine." He had these words about the unique view of Earth that he and his crewmates had from Columbia and their hopes for humanity: "From our orbital vantage point, we observe an Earth without borders, full of peace, beauty and magnificence, and we pray that humanity as a whole can imagine a borderless world as we see it, and strive to live as one in peace."
Payload Cmdr. Michael Anderson
"Michael Anderson always wanted to fly planes and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Air Force," President George W. Bush said. "Along the way, he became a role model, especially for his two daughters and for the many children he spoke to in schools. He said to them, 'Whatever you want to be in life, you're training for it now.'"
And U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Michael Anderson did prepare early in life for being an astronaut.
He was born in 1959 in Plattsburgh, N.Y., but he considered Spokane, Wash., to be his hometown. His dad was in the Air Force, and Anderson was exposed to aviation as a kid. He said that science caught his attention when he was young. These interests were two of the reasons why he wanted to be an astronaut.
"… at that time, we were going to the Moon and doing some really fantastic things with the space program," he said. "And, to me that was just the best combination of the two. You know, here you have these men that are scientists, engineers, and they're also flying these wonderful airplanes and these great spaceships, and they're going places. And to me, that just seemed like the perfect mix and the perfect job. So, very early on, I just thought being an astronaut would be a fantastic thing to do."
While at Cheney High School in Cheney, Wash., Anderson said he began to think about what college to go to and what to major in so that he could have a shot at becoming an astronaut. He decided to pick a science field that was broad.
"I picked physics because out of all the different scientific fields, I think physics is probably the broadest," he said. "It covers basically everything. It allows you to really take your interest and point it in any direction you'd like to point [it] in. So, I went to the University of Washington as a physics and astronomy major. And just had a marvelous time. I found it very challenging, very rewarding.
"My other interest, of course, was aviation. I always wanted to be a pilot. I wanted to fly airplanes. And, if you're going to fly airplanes, the best place to be is the Air Force. So, I went through the ROTC program there, and they provided me with a scholarship to help me pay for college."
Anderson earned a bachelor's degree in physics/astronomy from Washington in 1981. Then, he received a commission from the U.S. Air Force as a second lieutenant.
During his stint in the Air Force, Anderson received a master's degree in physics in 1990 from Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. Anderson flew various models of the KC-135 and the T-38A aircraft, logging more than 3,000 hours of flight time. He also became an instructor pilot.
Anderson got a step closer to fulfilling his dream of becoming an astronaut in late 1994 when NASA selected him as an astronaut candidate.
"… you just sort of pursue your interests," he said, "and you pray about it, and hopefully one day all things will kind of fall into place. And you'll have a chance to make those dreams come true. And fortunately for me, it did happen that way."
In the same preflight interview, he went on to say that he hasn't been disappointed, "And it's been a marvelous adventure. I've enjoyed every bit of it."
Anderson's first space flight occurred in 1998 when he flew as a mission specialist on Space Shuttle Endeavour during STS-89. That flight was the eighth Shuttle/Mir mission. Anderson spent 8 days, 19 hours and 47 minutes in space.
In 2003, he made his second trip into space on Space Shuttle Columbia during STS-107. He served as the STS-107 payload commander. More than 80 experiments were conducted during the flight.
Astronaut Office Chief Kent Rominger said that Anderson was the right man for the job of STS-107 payload commander. "He was a perfect choice for the payload commander," he said. "Organized, thorough, someone you could absolutely count on, a gifted leader."
Anderson and his six crewmates perished on Feb. 1, 2003, as Columbia broke up over Texas during re-entry, about 16 minutes before landing. STS-107 spent 15 days, 22 hours and 20 minutes in space, giving him a total of 24 days, 18 hours and 7 minutes in space.
Anderson is survived by his wife and children.
Mission Specialist Dave Brown
U.S. Navy Capt. David Brown was born April 16, 1956, in Arlington, Va. While growing up he didn't have a specific dream of becoming an astronaut. Although he thought that being an astronaut would be a good job, he didn't think it was possible.
"I was a little bit late for Mercury, but I remember Gemini and Apollo quite well in the Sixties, and then Skylab and early shuttle," he said in a preflight interview. "But I absolutely couldn't identify with the people who were astronauts. I thought they were movie stars. And I just thought I was kind of a normal kid. And so I couldn't see a path how a normal kid could ever get to be one of these people that I just couldn't identify with. And so, while I would've said, 'Hey, this is like the coolest thing you could possibly do,' it really wasn't something that I ever thought that I would end up doing."
However, he did have an interest in science and flying that would eventually lead him on a path to becoming an astronaut. It was later in life that his idea about becoming an astronaut would change.
"And, it was really kind of much later in life after I'd been in medical school, I'd gone on to become a Navy pilot, that I really thought, 'Well, maybe I would have some skills and background that NASA might be interested in,'" Brown said. "And then I went ahead and applied. So, I think growing up I really underestimated myself. And I was really a bit wrong about things that I could do, and I'm glad I figured out kind of later in life that if I wanted to pursue that, that I could."
Brown graduated from Arlington's Yorktown High School in 1974 and then went to college at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va. While at William and Mary, Brown was a member of the Tribe's varsity gymnastics team. He said his gymnastics coach had an influence that helped him later in life.
"He was a fellow that really took, actually did -- and still does -- take a very long-term view of what athletics and education are all about. And, he's just been investing in people in that program ever since," Brown said. "When I look back now, and I think I understand a little more what he was doing now than at the time, he invests in people and gives a lot of his time and attention. He certainly did to me. I learned a lot about what it's to be, what it's like to be on a team. What you need to know to be on a team. About setting personal goals. And about [having the] daily discipline to get to those goals."
Brown also used his athletic talents during college to work as an acrobat, 7-foot unicyclist and stilt walker for Circus Kingdom.
After graduating from William and Mary with a bachelor's degree in biology, he went to Eastern Virginia Medical School, where he earned a doctorate in medicine in 1982. He performed his internship in South Carolina and went to the U.S. Navy flight surgeon school in 1984.
In 1988, Brown became the only flight surgeon to be selected for pilot training in a 10-year period. He completed his training and became a naval aviator in 1990, ranking first in his class. He logged 1,700 hours of flight time in high-performance military aircraft during his stint with the Navy. He said that being a pilot and doctor was beneficial for him.
"As a physician and as a pilot, I think it lets me be a pretty good translator, having one foot in the medical world and one foot in the flying world," he said. "Sometimes when the medical guys come in and speak medical stuff to the pilots, the pilots really don't know what they're saying. And vice versa."
In 1996, his talents took him to NASA when he was selected as an astronaut candidate. Brown became qualified as a pilot for NASA's T-38 aircraft.
In a preflight interview, Brown said that as an astronaut, he hoped to help in the advancement of science. "Whatever I can do to contribute to science, to improve science, I think is really great," he said.
His first space flight was on Space Shuttle Columbia as a mission specialist during STS-107, an extended-duration mission devoted to scientific research. The STS-107 crew conducted more than 80 experiments during its stay in space.
Brown and his six crewmates perished over Texas on Feb. 1 as Columbia was re-entering Earth's atmosphere. Columbia was about 16 minutes from landing in Florida. Brown spent 15 days, 22 hours and 20 minutes in space.
Astronaut Office Chief Kent Rominger said that Brown was known as "Doc" to friends and that he loved to take pictures and had a great sense of humor.
"Doc also loved cameras and always had a camera with him," Rominger said, "riding out to the pad I've never seen anybody as intense at making sure he filmed every bit of what was going on with his crew as Doc. Usually when he was filming folks, he would tell them, 'Just act like a little brown squirrel.'
"He also had a keen sense of humor and after one demanding simulator run, turned to [Flight Engineer Kalpana Chawla] and asked, 'May I borrow your brain?' This comment illustrates his humility, because it was well known in the Astronaut Office that he was extremely capable."
President George W. Bush summed up Brown's achievements and life during a memorial service at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, on Feb. 4, 2003.
"David Brown was first drawn to the stars as a little boy with a telescope in his backyard," Bush said. "He admired astronauts, but as he said, 'I thought they were movie stars. I thought I was kind of a normal kid.' David grew up to be a physician, an aviator who could land on the deck of a carrier in the middle of the night, and a shuttle astronaut.
"His brother asked him several weeks ago what would happen if something went wrong on their mission," Bush continued. "David replied, 'This program will go on.'"
Mission Specialist Kalpana Chawla
Kalpana Chawla's path to become an astronaut began in Karnal, India.
"None of our astronauts traveled a longer path to space than Kalpana Chawla," U.S. President George W. Bush said. "She left India as a student but she would see the nation of her birth, all of it, from hundreds of miles above."
Chawla knew that she wanted to be an aerospace engineer at an early age. She was influenced by watching the planes from the local flying clubs and by her father.
"Every once in a while," Chawla said, "we'd ask my dad if we could get a ride in one of these planes. And, he did take us to the flying club and get us a ride in the Pushpak and a glider that the flying club had."
She graduated from Tagore School, Karnal, India, in 1976 and received a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering from India's Punjab Engineering College in 1982.
Then, she moved to the United States to go to graduate school at the University of Texas-Arlington, where she received a master's degree in aerospace engineering in 1984. Then, she moved to Boulder, Colo., to pursue a doctorate in aerospace engineering, which she received in 1988.
Her career with NASA began in 1988 when she went to work for the Ames Research Center in California. Chawla's work at Ames centered on powered-lift computational fluid dynamics, which involves aircraft like the Harrier.
She left Ames in 1993 to join Overset Methods Inc. in Los Altos, Calif., as vice president and research scientist. She headed a team of researchers specializing in simulation of moving multiple body problems. Her work at Overset resulted in development and implementation of efficient techniques to perform aerodynamic optimization.
However, the successful career outside of NASA was brief. The agency selected her as an astronaut candidate in December 1994, and she reported to Johnson Space Center in March 1995.
Her first flight was STS-87, the fourth U.S Microgravity Payload flight, on Space Shuttle Columbia from Nov. 19 to Dec. 5, 1997. She was a mission specialist and operated Columbia's robot arm.
She returned to space in Jan. 16, 2003, aboard Columbia. She served as mission specialist during the 16-day research flight. The STS-107 crew conducted more than 80 experiments.
Chawla and her six STS-107 crewmates perished Feb. 1, 2003, over Texas as Columbia was re-entering Earth's atmosphere en route to a landing at Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
Chawla is survived by her husband. Her interests included hiking and backpacking. She also enjoyed flying. She held a Certificated Flight Instructor's license with airplane and glider ratings, Commercial Pilot's licenses for single- and multi-engine land and seaplanes, and Gliders, and instrument rating for airplanes.
In a memorial service on Feb. 4, 2003, Astronaut Office Chief Kent Rominger said that Chawla loved her work and was respected by her colleagues.
"Kalpana, or K.C. to her friends, was admired personally for her extraordinary kindness and technically for her strive for perfection," he said. "She had a terrific sense of humor and loved flying small airplanes with her husband and loved flying in space. Flying was her passion. She would often remind her crew as her training flow would be delayed and become extended, she would say, 'Man, you are training to fly in space. What more could you want?'"
During an STS-107 preflight interview, she was asked who inspired her. She responded that she was motivated by people who are giving it their all.
"I think inspiration and tied with it is motivation," she said. "For me, definitely, it comes every day from people in all walks of life. It's easy for me to be motivated and inspired by seeing somebody who just goes all out to do something."
Chawla was a motivated person who made an impression on others.
"When the sad news reached her hometown," Bush said, "an administrator at her high school recalled, 'She always said she wanted to reach the stars. She went there and beyond.' Kalpana's native country mourns her today and so does her adopted land."
Mission Specialist Laurel Clark
U.S. Navy Captain Laurel Salton Clark's path to becoming an astronaut evolved over time. Clark said that while growing up she had an interest in the environment and animals.
"I was interested in the Moon landings just about the same as everyone else of my generation," she said. "But, I never really thought about being an astronaut or working in space myself. I was very interested in environment and ecosystems and animals."
She said her parents were a huge influence on her life when she was a child. "They always expected the most out of all of us," she said, "and expected us to do our very best."
Clark graduated from William Horlick High School in Racine, Wis., in 1979. The following eight years of her life were spent at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She earned a bachelor's degree in science in zoology in 1983 and doctorate in medicine in 1987.
"… the eight years that I spent at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I have incredibly fond memories of," Clark said. "I did my undergraduate work there in zoology. And then followed it up with the four years in medical school. And it's a beautiful place, with four seasons up in Wisconsin, and really wonderful people."
Her path to becoming an astronaut included being a member of the U.S. Navy. During her time in the Navy, Clark became an undersea medical officer. While stationed in Scotland, she dove with divers and performed numerous medical evacuations from U.S. submarines. Later, she became a flight surgeon.
"I joined the Navy and was exposed to a lot of different operational environments, working on submarines and working in tight quarters on ships, and learning about radiation medicine," Clark said. "And it was really just sort of a natural progression when I learned about NASA and what astronauts do, and the type of things that they are expected to do, that I thought about the things I had done so far and became more interested in that as a career."
NASA selected Clark as an astronaut candidate in 1996. She successfully completed her training and evaluation. Prior to receiving her first flight assignment, she worked in the Astronaut Office Payloads/Habitability Branch.
Clark made her first space flight on Space Shuttle Columbia during STS-107 as a mission specialist. The extended-duration mission was dedicated to scientific research. The STS-107 crew successfully conducted more than 80 experiments. Prior to the start of the mission, she said that the crew would enjoy its view of Earth.
"We're incredibly lucky to be able to be working where we are up above the Earth and being able to see our planet from that vantage point," she said.
On Feb. 1, Clark and the STS-107 crew perished during re-entry as Columbia broke up over Texas en route to a landing in Florida. She amassed 15 days, 22 hours and 20 minutes in space. Astronaut Office Chief Kent Rominger said that Clark had an outgoing personality and loved her work. "Laurel -- the dedicated professional with a wide variety of talents," he said. "She was also the queen of STS-107 paraphernalia. She had a different pastel crew shirt for each day of the week complemented with crew patches and matching crew earrings. She had a perpetual smile, and would never send an e-mail or phone if she could find you in person."
She is survived by her husband and son. She said that her most enjoyable experience outside of her astronaut career was being a mother. "…motherhood's been incredible," she said, "and I tell my son all the time that my most important job is being his mother."
Rominger also said that even though she was devoted to her work, Clark's family was a priority in her life. "But no matter how hectic the day, she inspired us with her ability to always reserve time and energy for her family," he said.
During a memorial service at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, on Feb. 4, 2003, President George W. Bush emphasized Clark's love for her family and her work.
"Laurel Salton Clark was a physician and a flight surgeon who loved adventure, loved her work, loved her husband and her son," he said. "A friend who heard Laurel speaking to Mission Control said there was a smile in her voice. Laurel conducted some of the experiments as Columbia orbited the Earth and described seeing new life emerged from a tiny cocoon. 'Life,' she said, 'continues in a lot of places and life is a magical thing.'"
Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon
When Israel Air Force Colonel Ilan Ramon was asked what it was like to be selected as the first Israeli astronaut, he said that he feels like he is a representative of his home country.
"… I think it's very, very peculiar to be the first Israeli up in space," he said. "Especially because of my background. But my background is kind of a symbol of a lot of other Israelis' background. My mother is a Holocaust survivor. She was in Auschwitz. My father fought for the independence of Israel not so long ago. I was born in Israel and I'm kind of the proof for them, and for the whole Israeli people, that whatever we fought for and we've been going through in the last century -- or maybe in the last two thousand years -- is becoming true.
"And I was talking to a lot of, for instance, Holocaust survivors. And when you talk to these people who are pretty old today, and you tell them that you're going to be in space as an Israeli astronaut, they look at you as a dream that they could have never dreamed of. So, it's very exciting for me to be able to fulfill their dream that they wouldn't dare to dream. So, it is very exciting. Very exciting."
Ramon was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, in June 1954. He graduated from high school in 1972. He then joined the Israel Air Force. He fought in the Yom Kippur War in 1973 and graduated as a fighter pilot from the Israel Air Force Flight School in 1974.
Over the next nine years, he gained experience in flying the A-4, F-16 and Mirage III-C aircraft, which included time training at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. Then, he attended the University of Tel Aviv from 1983 to 1987, where he earned a bachelor's degree in electronics and computer engineering.
He then returned to flying for the air force. Ramon compiled more than 4,000 flight hours in Israeli military aircraft.
In 1997 he was selected to be an astronaut, and he reported to Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, in 1998. He said that he and most Israelis never dreamed of becoming astronauts.
"Well, when I was a kid," Ramon said, "… most of the people wouldn't dream of being an astronaut because it wasn't on the agenda. So I never thought I would've been an astronaut. I'm a pilot, a fighter pilot, in my background. And I love to fly! Flying aircrafts, fighter aircraft, is great. And I was very happy. I've never dreamed to be an astronaut. When I was selected, I really jumped almost to space."
Ramon trained until he made his first space flight in January 2003. He served as a payload specialist during STS-107 aboard Space Shuttle Columbia. The STS-107 crew conducted more than 80 experiments during the scientific research mission.
While in orbit, he talked about the view of planet Earth and the need to take care of it. "The world looks marvelous from up here, so peaceful, so wonderful and so fragile," Ramon said. "The atmosphere is so thin and fragile, and I think all of us have to keep it clean and good. It saves our life and gives our life."
Ramon and his six crewmates perished on Feb. 1, 2003, over Texas as Columbia was re-entering Earth's atmosphere en-route to landing in Florida. Ramon spent 15 days, 22 hours and 20 minutes in space.
According to Astronaut Office Chief Kent Rominger, Ramon was a caring person and enjoyed his time in space and working with his crewmates. "He was also extremely caring," Rominger said. "From orbit, he sent an e-mail encouraging management, me and the other folks to immediately reassign this crew; that he could not imagine being part of or flying with any crew that was more deserving, more talented and more capable."
Ramon is survived by his wife and four children. Outside of his astronaut career, Ramon enjoyed snow skiing. And during a preflight interview, he said seeing the births of his children were among the most exciting moments in his life.
"Another very exciting and peculiar experience was to participate or take part, a small part, in all my four [children's] births," Ramon said. "I was supporting my wife during the births of all my four kids. And this is amazing to see a child born. This is the kind of exciting experience that I was in."
President George W. Bush spoke about Ramon's life and wish for peace during a memorial service on Feb. 4, 2003, at Johnson Space Center. "Ilan Ramon also flew above his home, the land of Israel," Bush said. "He said the quiet that envelops space makes the beauty even more powerful and 'I only hope that the quiet can one day spread to my country.'"
"Ilan was a patriot, the devoted son of a Holocaust survivor, served his country in two wars. Ilan," said his wife Rona, "left us at his peak moment, in his favorite place with people he loved."
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