Replies

FYI --

>> > ----- Original Message -----

>> > From: "Flatley James CDR VF-154"

>> > To: "RADM & Mrs J H Flatley E-mail"

>> > Sent: Monday, February 03, 2003 11:28 PM >> > >> >

>> > Below is an e-mail sent from orbit by CDR Willie McCool to some of his >> Naval >> > Academy classmates early in Columbia's final mission.

Willie was a good >> > friend, and a stand out in the Class of '83 from the first day of Plebe >> > Summer, right on through to accepting the second to last diploma at >> > graduation, as the second brightest star in our Class. God has now asked >> him >> > to be one of seven, equally bright stars in Heaven's newest >constellation: >> >

>> > Sat 1/25/2003 2:20 PM >> >

>> > Greetings from 150 miles above the Earth! My apologies up-front for not writing each of you personally. The tempo is very high, and what few precious free moments I do have, I try to use absorbing the overwhelming smorgasbord of new experiences. There is so much to share with you!

Too much to write ... so hang tight until post-flight when I can bring photos and videos to accompany the stories. This has been an unbelievable adventure!

I hope you enjoyed watching the launch, and thanks for hanging tough through the many delays. More later when we return ...

Willie

PS - As I write, we just experienced a sunset over the Pacific, just East of Chile. I'm sitting on the flight deck in the CDR seat (front right) with a view of the Earth moving gracefully by. Sunsets and sunrises from space come every 45 minutes, and last only about 30 seconds, but the colors are stunning. In a single view I see looking out at the edge of the Earth - red at the horizon line, blending to orange, then yellow; followed by a thin white line, then light blue, gradually turning to dark blue, then various gradually darker shades of gray, then black with a million stars above.

It's breath-taking! >> >

>> > ---------------------- >> > ---------------------- >> >

>> > A footnote: The Creator of us all must have have had a special place set >> > aside in His Kingdom for the diverse team crewing shuttle Columbia. Of >all >> > the children He has created in His image since the begining of >> civilization, >> > these seven, truly representing all on earth in gender, race and >> > nationality, enjoyed the briefest journey, ever, back into His arms. God >> > bless their service and sacrifice to their nation's, and to mankind.

>> >Jim> >> >