The Best Among Us, Remembering Space Shuttle Columbia

NASA Web Site ^ | 2/1/04 | NASA

[Paul Ross]

For those who have the time to quietly reflect, as we choose for our nation our leadership, I humbly submit that there is little better "signal" of character than this solemn memorial to fallen heroes...

[Old Professer]

They are not heroes, they are victims.

[dep]

with all due respect to those aboard columbia, and those aboard challenger, too, there's not one among them who would have gotten aboard if they had the slightest inkling that the shuttle was as unreliable and dangerous as it not only was but was known to be.

the lesson from those lamentable disasters is that congress should not micromanage the design of things like spacecraft, and certainly the design and choice of contractors ought not be pork-barrel items.

[Prime Choice]

[Pyro7480]

It's not heroic to go into space for the improvement of humanity?

[Prime Choice]

They are not heroes, they are victims.

So, by your logic, the firefighters who died in the Twin Towers on 9/11 are just "victims" and not heroes either, hm?

Either come out and say it or expose yourself as a hypocrite.

[Prime Choice]

with all due respect to those aboard columbia, and those aboard challenger, too, there's not one among them who would have gotten aboard if they had the slightest inkling that the shuttle was as unreliable and dangerous as it not only was but was known to be.

Then by your logic, the firefighters who died in the Twin Towers on 9/11 are not heroes either. So come out and say as much or admit your own hypocrisy.

[pgyanke]

he·ro ( P ) Pronunciation Key (hîr) n. pl. he·roes

1. In mythology and legend, a man, often of divine ancestry, who is endowed with great courage and strength, celebrated for his bold exploits, and favored by the gods.
2. A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life: soldiers and nurses who were heroes in an unpopular war.
3. A person noted for special achievement in a particular field: the heroes of medicine. See Synonyms at celebrity.

vic·tim ( P ) Pronunciation Key (vktm) n.

1. One who is harmed or killed by another: a victim of a mugging.
2. A living creature slain and offered as a sacrifice during a religious rite.
3. One who is harmed by or made to suffer from an act, circumstance, agency, or condition: victims of war.
4. A person who suffers injury, loss, or death as a result of a voluntary undertaking: You are a victim of your own scheming.
5. A person who is tricked, swindled, or taken advantage of: the victim of a cruel hoax.

They fit the definition of the former far better than the latter.

[dep]

you are entirely right. the difference between a hero and a victim is knowing ahead of time the nature and depth of the danger. the astronauts were lied to.

[BoBToMatoE]

Dep,

I disagree. If you know ANYTHING about space travel you know that every single one of them knew the risks. When you are riding a controlled explosion into space, not matter how "safe" we make it look, it still stares death in the face.

[pgyanke]

Every astronaut boards the craft with the knowledge that their trip could be one way. You are incorrect.

[Cold Heat]

They are not heroes, they are victims.

Victims or not, the comment you made sucks!

[Frank_Discussion]

Re: Your first paragraph - I know a few astronauts and their families, and you're completely full of sh*t. They know it's a dangerous line of work, and recruitment has continued just fine since both Challenger and Columbia, so obviously these tragedies are NOT scaring people off.

Re: Your second paragraph - I happen to agree.

[Socratic]

Thank you for your thoughtful, reverential post.

[Publius6961]

Either come out and say it or expose yourself as a hypocrite.

I wouldn't do either one. That's a dumb choice, you are "setting him up. Here's your choice: What's more important? Proven material for the insulating foam? or a "more environmentally friendly" alternative which caused the death of 7 astronauts?

I agree they were victims. Of ignorance over experience. Political correctness sometimes kills. Someone usually makes that choice.

[dep]

well, no, actually, you are entirely wrong. i've written extensively on the subject -- this won the aviation and space writers association award and a pulitzer nomination in 1988 -- and have interviewed numerous astronauts both post-challenger and post-columbia, and to a person they are enraged at nasa for understating the depth of the known hazards. the problem with the tps, for instance, was known from the first drop test of enterprise and from the first ferry flight of columbia. i wrote about that here. but thanks for playing.

[Old Professer]

Why? The truth has no emotional compass.

[Names Ash Housewares]

Indeed. HEROES. Anyone who thinks not should be ashamed.

And these heroes would be proud of the new direction that NASA has taken under Bush, I can safely say that. Anyone who loves NASA and exploration knows that. To return to the moon, then Mars, and beyond. THAT is why they risked their lives.

Thanks for posting this. We cant remember these folks enough. They are the very best and they were not afraid to take the risks that benefit all humanity.

"The cause of exploration and discovery is not an option we choose, It is a desire written in the human heart." -President Bush

[KellyAdmirer]

I don't see anything antithetical between being heroes and being victims. They are heroes, and if victims also, so be it. But I think they are bigger heroes than anything else.

[Old Professer]

The semantic jungle is fraught with undergrowth, the childish attachment to the dead serves the living poorly.

Twice, the American public was lulled into a sense of the routine concerning "space travel" and both times a simple material failure proved the seriousness of the undertaking; shall we celebrate the next crew for their bravery or for their sheer follishness?