#willie mccool

[gusgrissom]

Sixteen minutes from home. Remembering the crew of Columbia STS-107, twenty years ago today.

Colonel Rick Douglas Husband, USAF (July 12, 1957 – February 1, 2003)

Commander William Cameron McCool, USN (September 23, 1961 – February 1, 2003)

Captain David McDowell Brown, USN (April 16, 1956 – February 1, 2003)

Kalpana Chawla (March 17, 1962 – February 1, 2003)

Lieutenant Colonel Michael Phillip Anderson, USAF (December 25, 1959 – February 1, 2003)

Captain Laurel Blair Salton Clark, M.D., USN (March 10, 1961 – February 1, 2003)

Colonel Ilan Ramon, IAF (June 20, 1954 – February 1, 2003)

[rickhusband]

Although this week is always a sad one as we remember the sacrifices of the fallen astronauts, here’s a happy picture of the STS-107 crew celebrating their upcoming mission. I always prefer to celebrate the astronauts’ lives and their accomplishments while they were alive, instead of focusing on the tragedy of the day. I think many in the space community feel the same way.

[gusgrissom]

[gusgrissom]

Remembering naval aviator, test pilot, aeronautical engineer, astronaut and Columbia’s final pilot Willie McCool (September 23, 1961 – February 1, 2003) on what would’ve been his 60th birthday.

Willie was an amazing person who loved Radiohead and running and his family and his crew and inspiring the next generation. Happy birthday, Willie — you continue to touch countless lives with the example you set for all of us ❤️

[gusgrissom]

Not super high quality but I love these photos of the STS-107 crew on their hiking expedition in Wyoming, October 2001.

NASA sent future shuttle crews on these two-week outdoor leadership programs to build cooperation and friendship between the astronauts. Columbia’s final crew was especially close

[gusgrissom]

Some of my favorite photos of the STS-107 crew in orbit, January 2003

[gusgrissom]

Sixteen minutes from home. Remembering the crew of Columbia STS-107, eighteen years ago today.

Colonel Rick Douglas Husband, USAF (July 12, 1957 – February 1, 2003)

Commander William Cameron McCool, USN (September 23, 1961 – February 1, 2003)

Captain David McDowell Brown, USN (April 16, 1956 – February 1, 2003)

Kalpana Chawla (March 17, 1962 – February 1, 2003)

Lieutenant Colonel Michael Phillip Anderson, USAF (December 25, 1959 – February 1, 2003)

Captain Laurel Blair Salton Clark, M.D., USN (March 10, 1961 – February 1, 2003)

Colonel Ilan Ramon, IAF (June 20, 1954 – February 1, 2003)

[gusgrissom]