Goodbye, Columbia

Goodbye, Columbia

A rocket launch was news no more
To media engaged by war
And dangers braved by astronauts
Had faded from a nation's thoughts
Because it was so commonplace
To send a shuttle into space

For 16 days the crew of seven
Unnoticed, got a glimpse of heaven
While floating high above the earth
Performing tasks with joy and mirth
With Rick D. Husband in command
Of Columbia's faithful band

Laurel Clark loved life, her choice
There was a smile in her voice
Fearless pilot William McCool
Was calm and steady as a rule
Flying doctor David Brown
Looked up to the stars, spellbound

Kalpana Chawla watched sunrise
The Earth reflected in her eyes
From Israel, Ilan Ramon
Hoped for quiet to spread home
Michael Anderson was planning
To go on higher, if not landing

Calamity had been foretold
Columbia was getting old
Fatigue, a mishap or mistake
Might cause a vital part to break
They knew the risks that they would face
In doing science up in space

All shuttles must at last descend
When mission time comes to an end
With weightless work and play behind
Each took the seat they were assigned
They rolled to entry interface
And started flying down from space

A strangely silent instrument
Then more - a problem evident
How serious they could not tell
Encased within a fragile shell
Now powerless in final glide
A hurtling meteoric ride

Perhaps they did not hear the crack
Of doom that took the world aback
When 13 K at 40 miles
Was too much for the damaged tiles
Unconscious as their spacecraft broke
In multiplying trails of smoke

Their plight was writ for all to spy
Emblazoned clear across the sky
Could God with his all-seeing eyes
Have missed it, and a million cries
Of horror as we watched the streams
Of burning hopes and shattered dreams?

God, wrap your loving hands around
Their ship and guide it to the ground
Or send your angels, row on row
To lift them, lest they stub a toe
Please guard them, grant them saving grace
And bring them safely home from space

Unmoved by prayers for safe return
God let the valiant seven burn
Their pain would serve a greater cause
Than science data and applause
In life, a few would know their story
In death they gain eternal glory

A mourning nation now must strive
To keep their hallowed dream alive
We cannot let the world forget
That all mankind is in their debt
Until the day it's commonplace
To reach the stars in outer space