The Space Shuttle

The Columbia is gone.

I had a bad feeling about this launch from the start. And ironically, I was talking about the Challenger incident with my friend last night. This is just horrible.

I wonder if the Palestinians are dancing in the streets.

Bush gave a very emotional address to the nation, and the world. I wonder if the secular radicals will condemn him for mentioning God in his speech.

The Drudge Report is reporting the final contact between NASA and the crew:

"Mission Control: 'Columbia, Houston we see your tire pressure messages and we did not copy your last.'

Columbia: 'Roger, uh, ...' (transmission breaks off after the crew member starts to stay a word beginning with the sound 'buh.')"

I'm watching C-SPAN right now. There is a sickening anti-Israel sentiment being expressed by a number of the callers. There is also a strain of paranoia about supposed terrorist plots. Face it, folks: There is about a 99% chance this was just a horrific accident.

Questions: What happens to the people in the Space Station? Will the scheduled March 1st flight go as planned? Will funding for NASA increase as a result of this?

May the seven all rest in peace.