HEMPHILL, TX (KTRE) -
In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the
destruction of space shuttle Columbia, the City of Hemphill held "NASA Night,"
a town hall meeting.
It was just one of many events aimed at helping East
Texans and the rest of the world in "remembering Columbia." The
Columbia-related events will continue through Saturday.
The town hall meeting was held at the First Baptist
Church of Hemphill. Local dignitaries, the director of the Johnson Space
Center, a NASA astronaut, and a survivor of one of the fallen astronauts shared
their stories at the event, which was designed to show that the legacy lives
on.
Earlier today, many of the scheduled events portrayed
that thought as well. No doubt about it - NASA is depending on our young people
to carry on the dream.
Hemphill High School Science students took part in a
live video teleconferencing with a NASA educator. The links are offered
frequently from the Columbia Museum in Hemphill to the Johnson Space Center in
Houston.
The most-asked question by students?
"How do you go
to the bathroom, which no one asked today," Patricia Moore, a digital network
education specialist for NASA, said with a laugh.
Perhaps the fact that this day of learning was the day
before the shuttle fell led to a more serious tone. These students were in
elementary school when the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated on Feb. 1, 2003.
"I still remember the day. I was about to go to
my little dribblers game," Ethan Hargis, a Hemphill High School student, said. "We
were about to leave and we heard this loud noise."
Today, the aspiring engineer is realizing the event he
witnessed can easily influence his future.
"If I go into this, just learning from all this I
could take that, take what she says and apply it to want I want to be," Hargis
said.
NASA knows an important lesson about Remembering
Columbia is all about lessons learned. There's always going to be a certain
amount of risk with space travel, but the goal is not to repeat any deadly
mistakes. That's the job of NASA aerospace engineer Ronald Rocha.
"I work in the structural engineering
division, and we're responsible for the structural design and integrity
strength of any space craft," Rocha said.
Rocha knew at Columbia's liftoff a piece of foam
falling off the shuttle presented potential risks. At least seven times, he and
other engineers asked for images of the damages. Repeatedly he was turned
down.
"My regret is I gave up," Rocha said.
Even so, Rocha said lessons were learned, and policies
were changed.
"What we improved on is being heard more," Rocha
said. "All the details make sure we hear a thorough story from the
engineers."
The legacy lives on is reflected in other ways
this week. Memories and recollections were recorded at the museum. They're
even interested in a reporters' experience.
This week, everyone's story is important. It's the guarantee
that Columbia will forever be remembered.
More stories are being told inside the First Baptist
Church in Hemphill right now. East Texas News will have full coverage of the
town hall meeting tonight at 10 p.m. In addition, East Texas News will be
covering a Columbia memorial service Friday morning.
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