The Space Shuttle Columbia ascends through a clear blue sky during its STS-107 mission. (credit: NASA)
My initial experience in space journalism unfolded on the fateful morning of February 1, 2003, when I received an urgent call at home from an editor at the Houston Chronicle. He requested that I rush to Johnson Space Center to report on the devastating incident involving the Space Shuttle Columbia.
At that moment, it didn’t dawn on me that this tragedy would profoundly influence my career path, steering my focus toward space exploration and writing about it with unwavering passion.
Lately, I’ve found myself reflecting on Columbia. Although there are differences between this shuttle mission and Boeing’s inaugural crewed flight of their Starliner spacecraft, certain parallels can be drawn. A notable similarity lies in the concerns raised regarding vehicle safety post-launch; especially after foam debris struck Colombia’s wing leading edge.
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