The space shuttle Columbia broke apart over Texas on Saturday, February 1, killing all seven astronauts. Communication and tracking of the shuttle were lost at 9 a.m. at an altitude of about 203,000 feet above north central Texas while traveling approximately 12,500 miles per hour (Mach 18). No communication and tracking information was received in Mission Control after that time.
 

Commander: Rick D. Husband

Rick Husband, 45, a colonel in the U.S. Air Force, was a test pilot and veteran of one space flight. Husband received a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from Texas Tech University in 1980 and a master of science in mechanical engineering from California State University-Fresno in 1990.

Husband was responsible for the overall conduct of the mission. During the mission, he did the maneuvering of Columbia as part of several experiments in the shuttle's payload bay that focused on the Earth and the Sun. He was the senior member of the Red Team and worked with experiments relating to space medicine, particularly space and terrestrial Osteoporosis. Husband was scheduled to land Columbia at the end of the mission.

Selected by NASA in December 1994, Husband served as the pilot of STS-96 in 1999 - a 10-day mission during which the crew performed the first docking with the International Space Station. Prior to STS-107, he had logged more than 235 hours in space.

Born July 12, 1957, in Amarillo, Texas, Husband is survived by a wife and two children
 

Pilot: William C. McCool

William C. McCool, 41, was a commander in the U.S. Navy, and a former test pilot. He served as pilot for STS-107. He received a bachelor of science in applied science from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1983, a master of science in computer science from the University of Maryland in 1985, and a master of science in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in 1992.

As a member of the Blue Team, McCool worked with various experiments. He was also be responsible for maneuvering Columbia as part of several experiments mounted in the shuttle's payload bay.

Selected by NASA in April 1996, McCool was making his first space flight. He had over 2,800 hours flight experience in 24 aircraft and over 400 carrier arrestments.

Born September 23, 1961 in San Diego, California, McCool is survived by a wife.. He was an Eagle Scout and graduated second of 1,083 in the Class of 1983 at the US Naval Academy.
 

Payload Commander: Michael P. Anderson

Michael P. Anderson, 43, was a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force, a former instructor pilot and tactical officer, and a veteran of one space flight. Anderson received a bachelor of science in physics/astronomy from University of Washington in 1981 and a master of science in physics from Creighton University in 1990.

He served as Payload Commander and Mission Specialist 3 for STS-107. As payload commander he was responsible for the success (management) of the science mission aboard STS-107. As a member of the Blue Team, Anderson also worked with experiments on respiratory monitoring, combustion and Renal Stone Risk.

Selected by NASA in December 1994, Anderson flew on STS-89 in 1998 - the eighth Shuttle-Mir docking mission. Prior to STS-107, Anderson had logged over 211 hours in space.

Born December 25, 1959, in Plattsburgh, New York, he considered Spokane, Washington, to be his hometown. He was married.
 

Mission Specialist 1: David M. Brown

David M. Brown, 46, a captain in the U.S. Navy, was a naval aviator and flight surgeon. He served as Mission Specialist 1 for STS-107. Brown received a bachelor of science in biology from the College of William and Mary in 1978 and a doctorate in medicine from Eastern Virginia Medical School in 1982. He was selected as Navy Operational Flight Surgeon of the Year in 1986,

As a member of the Blue Team, Brown worked with experiments on combustion, and medicine.

Selected by NASA in April 1996, Brown was making his first space flight Brown logged over 2,700 flight hours with 1,700 in high performance military aircraft. He was qualified as first pilot in NASA T-38 aircraft.

Born April 16, 1956 in Arlington, Virginia, Brown was single. While in college he performed in the Circus Kingdom as an acrobat, 7 foot unicyclist and stilt walker. His parents, Paul and Dorothy Brown, reside in Washington, Virginia.
 

Mission Specialist 2: Kalpana Chawla, PH.D.

Kalpana Chawla, 41, was an aerospace engineer and an FAA Certified Flight Instructor. She received a bachelor of science in aeronautical engineering from Punjab Engineering College, India, in 1982, a master of science in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas-Arlington in 1984, and a doctorate in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado-Boulder in 1988.

Chawla served as Flight Engineer and Mission Specialist 2 for STS-107. As a member of the Red Team, she shared responsibilities for maneuvering Columbia as part of several experiments in the shuttle's payload bay. She also worked with various experiments related to combustion and crystal growth.

Selected by NASA in December 1994, Chawla was the prime robotic arm operator on STS-87 in 1997, the fourth U.S. Microgravity Payload flight. STS-87 focused on how the weightless environment of space affects various physical processes. Prior to STS-107, She had logged more than 376 hours in space.

Born in Karnal, India. Kalpana Chawla enjoyed flying, hiking, back-packing, and reading.
 

Mission Specialist 4: Laurel Blair Salton Clark, MD

Laurel Clark, 41, a commander (captain-select) in the U.S. Navy and a naval flight surgeon, was Mission Specialist 4 on STS-107. Clark received a bachelor of science in zoology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1983 and a doctorate in medicine from the same school in 1987.

As a member of the Red Team, Clark worked with primarily on experiments relating to biology and medicine. Among them were the study of the effects of microgravity on microbial physiology and space flight effects on Fungal Growth.

Selected by NASA in April 1996, Clark was making her first space flight. Prior to her selection as an astronaut candidate she served as a Flight Surgeon for the Naval Flight Officer advanced training squadron in Pensacola, Florida.

Born in Iowa, Clark considered Racine, Wisconsin, to be her hometown. She is survived by Jonathan B. Clark (Captain, USN) and their one child.
 

Payload Specialist: Ilan Ramon

Ilan Ramon, 48, was a colonel in the Israeli Air Force. He received a bachelor of science in electronics and computer engineering from the University of Tel Aviv, Israel, in 1987.

As a member of the Red Team, Ramon was the prime crew member for the Mediterranean Israeli Dust Experiment, a multispectral camera that measured small dust particles (dust aerosols) in the atmosphere over the Mediterranean and the Saharan coast of the Atlantic. He was also working on many other experiments.

Ramon was selected as a Payload Specialist by the Israeli Air Force in 1997 and approved by NASA in 1998. He reported for training at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston in July 1998. Colonel Ramon had accumulated over 3,000 flight hours on the A-4, Mirage III-C, and F-4, and over 1,000 flight hours on the F-16.

Born June 20,1954 in Tel Aviv, Israel, Ramon is survived by his wife Rona, and their four children. His parents reside in Beer Sheva, Israel.

Posted February 1, 2003