Columbia Crew Looked Forward to Re-entry

After 16 days in space, they were just 16 minutes from landing safely on Earth. A month before their launch, some of the astronauts on Columbia said they looked forward to coming home.

The crew of the ill-fated Columbia talked during pre-flight interviews in December about how the mission would go and how they would enjoy their time in space together. As the nation now mourns the loss of these seven astronauts, their words bring a chill.

"Entries are a little bit better than launch. It's not quite as violent, and you can enjoy it a little bit," said Michael Anderson, mission specialist. "On this flight entry, I'm just going to sit down in my seat and hopefully, reflect on the 16 days on orbit that we've had. [I'm] just anxious to get back to Earth. I'll be happy to have this flight behind us."

Little is known about what caused the explosions and subsequent break up of the shuttle in the skies over Texas, but before their launch, Flight Engineer Laurel Clark said no matter what problems arise onboard Columbia, she would be the first to know.

"I actually have a computer screen back near my seat where I can monitor the overall health of the vehicle and pick up any problems that might be occurring," she said. "Of course, we trained for a lot more malfunctions than ever happen."

Six of the seven astronauts wore an American flag on their sleeves. The seventh, Ilon Ramon, a hero in his home country, wore an Israeli one. Joined in the fate of the Columbia crew, Ramon became a hero here as well.

"When I was a kid....I never thought I would've been an astronaut," Ramon said. "I'm a pilot, a fighter pilot. I didn't do anything to get here. I think I was in the right place at the right time. That's all."

Only three of the crew members had ever been to space before. One was Commander Rick Husband, who flew on STS-96, NASA's first docking with the International Space Station in 1999.

"It was the achievement of a lifelong dream and goal," Husband said. "It was just an awesome and awe-inspiring experience, being able to see the beauty of the Earth and the contrast of colors down there. And it just makes me look that much more forward to going up again on this mission."

For Husband, the love he had for space didn’t compare to the love for his family.

"The most enjoyable part of my life has been my time with my family. If you think about....the most exciting or memorable events, I would say my marriage and then the birth of our two children, being there for my wife, and just the awesome experience of seeing a baby come into the world."

Mission Specialist Dave Brown was a college gymnast and circus performer before becoming a doctor and spending a decade in the Navy. He joined NASA in 1996. Columbia's STS-107 was his first journey into space. Brown discussed his vision of what it would have been like to come home.

"I don't think 16 days is long enough. At least not for me," he said. "It'll be about time to come home, and I'm going to say, 'No, I want to stay and keep going.'"

Story and photo by Toby G. Hayes