Fallen astronauts honored

All fallen astornauts were honored today at a ceremony marking five years since the breakup of Columbia STS-107. The event was held at the Kennedy Space Center Vistor Complex. Before the ceremony the family of Columbia Commander Rick Husband placed roses at the Space Mirror Memorial. Left to right: Matthew Husband, 12, Bill Thompson (Evelyn's new husband), Laura Husband, 17, and Evelyn Husband-Thompson.


Husband-Thompson acknowledges grief and moves into the future.

Five years after Columbia broke apart over east Texas, the shuttle commander's widow still bears the grief of that day.

The longest minutes of her life likely were spent at the Shuttle Landing Facility as the landing countdown clock reached zero and no orbiter appeared. No telltale twin sonic booms were heard.

Nothing.

"This morning I couldn't stop thinking about Rick," Evelyn Husband-Thompson, widow of Col. Rick Husband, Commander of Columbia, said Friday.

She was the keynote speaker at the annual commemoration of fallen astronauts. Her grief has been softened by time, love and progress.

And while the shuttle has returned to flight, Husband-Thompson has also restarted her life, remarrying three weeks ago, writing a book, and continuing to raise her children, Matthew, 12, and Laura, 17.

"It's just proof that life does go on," said Laura Husband, whose father left a videotape for her to play each day he was to be in space. "I do realize he is a hero," said the high school senior who plans to study music in college.

Young Matthew Husband said he's been keeping up his grades and is planning a career as an aerospace architect. He wants to design bases U.S. astronauts will use on Mars.

Husband-Thompson has relied on a deep religious faith throughout her ordeal, but she said she has also been supported by the space agency.

"NASA has stood by us through thick and thin," she said.

Legendary shuttle Commander Eileen Collins spoke of her resolve after the Columbia accident. She led the first shuttle mission back to space, STS-114 in 2005.

Collins said astronauts risk their lives out of a love of flying and a belief that space exploration is important to everyone on Earth.

"Those are strong motivations," she said. "All I know was I was not going to quit (after the Columbia accident), and my crew was not going to quit."

Finally, NASA Administrator Mike Griffin read a letter from President Bush and assured the crowd of several hundred that NASA officials appreciate the risks astronauts take.

"This profession represents the peak of what it is to be an American," said Griffin. "Today is a day we remember that not quitting can bear high costs."