They are not heroes, they are victims.
with all due respect to those aboard columbia, and those aboard challenger, too, there's not one among them who would have gotten aboard if they had the slightest inkling that the shuttle was as unreliable and dangerous as it not only was but was known to be.
the lesson from those lamentable disasters is that congress should not micromanage the design of things like spacecraft, and certainly the design and choice of contractors ought not be pork-barrel items.
Thank you for your thoughtful, reverential post.
And these heroes would be proud of the new direction that NASA has taken under Bush, I can safely say that. Anyone who loves NASA and exploration knows that. To return to the moon, then Mars, and beyond. THAT is why they risked their lives.
Thanks for posting this. We cant remember these folks enough. They are the very best and they were not afraid to take the risks that benefit all humanity.
"The cause of exploration and discovery is not an option we choose, It is a desire written in the human heart." -President Bush
Another memorial (includes audio from George W.):
http://www.interviewwithgod.com/columbia/
Ping.