[sharkdiver]

Ya know if a helicopter with 7 army troops crashed somewhere tomorrow you would be hard pressed to find one story about it in your local news. Let alone multiple articles. This story makes me sick. Go into outer space is highly dangerous. They knew the risks. they took them and sorry but they died. It's not like they lay on a cold battle field bleeding to death from shrapnel wounds. Where this people brave yes, but Heros not a chance. Heros fight in wars. They get shot at, they spend months even years station away from their home and loved one.

[fnord]

I agree with you ...

Many times this number die on the highways each day. Military, firefighters, local police, etc. have caualties every day, without the fanfare.

I think the facts that these were nominally civilians doing dramatic things, coupled with the televised nature of their demise, is what makes it have more impact.

I find it (still) a captivating news item, but not as emotionally moving as many others seem to find it.

I am career military, and there have been times when we lost people, more so through accident than combat. In every case we might mourn privately for a short while, but publicly at least we moved on with our missions, however mundane. I bet the astronaut fraternity is likewise stoic and professional, and would prefer to 'move on' without the media circus we have been seeing.

Sorry for the long reply; in sum, I agree with you.