SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA

Eight years ago today, at 8:59 a.m., the 7-member crew of Space Shuttle Columbia perished when Columbia disintegrated over Texas during reentry into the Earth's atmosphere; it was just minutes before their scheduled landing.

(Click on photos to enlarge.)

Columbia Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery

 The names of the seven astronauts killed

 Memorial for the Columbia crew at the Kennedy Space Center

Plaque honoring those astronauts who have made

the ultimate sacrifice for the American Space Program,

believing that the conquest of space is worth the risk of life

 Official patch for
Columbia Space Shuttle Mission STS-107