HEMPHILL, Texas (KTRE) - The 21st anniversary of the Columbia space shuttle breaking apart in East Texas is almost here. It’s an event that some East Texans know all too well.
Veronica Thomas, a board member for the Patricia Huffman Smith NASA museum expects groups of people to come even though the commemoration won’t be as large as last year’s 20th.
“Last year we had approximately 4,000 people come, although it was the 20th anniversary and we did a three-day event,” Thomas said.
The memorial ceremony is Thursday, Feb. 1 at 7:45 a.m., which is the day and time the shuttle broke apart across the skies of East Texas.
“It’s important that we are here. It’s important that the story is told. It’s our history,” Thomas said.
The museum serves as a place to remember the seven astronauts, the recovery team ... including the two men who lost their lives during the search, as well as the shuttle itself.
The museum does serve another purpose, as well.
“Our main focus is education,” Thomas said. “The family members said if there must be a museum, it has to focus on education, because they all believed in education.”
The ceremony is free and open to everyone. The museum is located at 375 Sabine St., Unit B, in Hemphill.
SPECIAL CONTENT:
+ Remembering Columbia
This is a traditional crew portrait of the seven STS-107 crew members. Seated in front, from left, are: Astronauts Rick D. Husband, mission commander; Kalpana Chawla, mission specialist; and William C. McCool, pilot. Standing, from left, are: David M. Brown, Laurel B. Clark, and Michael P. Anderson, all mission specialists; and Ilan Ramon, payload specialist, representing the Israeli Space Agency. Launched January 16, 2003, the STS-107 mission is strictly a multidiscipline microgravity and Earth science research mission involving 80-plus International experiments to be performed during 16-days, many of which will be managed by the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The first shuttle mission in 2003, the STS-107 mission marks the 113th flight overall in NASA's Space Shuttle program and the 28th flight of the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia.(Source: NASA) The STS-107 crew poses in front of the entry into Space Shuttle Columbia during Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test activities on the pad. Kneeling in front are (left to right) Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon (the first Israeli astronaut), Pilot William "Willie" McCool and Mission Specialist David Brown. Standing in back are (left to right) Payload Commander Michael Anderson, Mission Specialist Kalpana Chawla, Commander Rick Husband and Mission Specialist Laurel Clark. The TCDT also includes a simulated launch countdown.(Source: NASA) The STS-107 crewmembers pose for an informal crew portrait near a T-38 trainer jet at Ellington Field near Johnson Space Center (JSC). From the left are astronauts Rick D. Husband, mission commander; William C. McCool, pilot; David M. Brown, Laurel B. Clark, both mission specialists; payload specialist Ilan Ramon; astronauts Michael P. Anderson and Kalpana Chawla, both mission specialists. Ramon represents the Israeli Space Agency.(Source: NASA) Space Shuttle Columbia sits on Launch Pad 39A, atop the Mobile Launcher Platform. The STS-107 research mission comprises experiments ranging from material sciences to life sciences (many rats), plus the Fast Reaction Experiments Enabling Science, Technology, Applications and Research (FREESTAR) that incorporates eight high priority secondary attached shuttle experiments.(Source: NASA) Space Shuttle Columbia rolls towards Launch Pad 39A, sitting atop the Mobile Launcher Platform, which in turn is carried by the crawler-transporter underneath. The STS-107 research mission comprises experiments ranging from material sciences to life sciences (many rats), plus the Fast Reaction Experiments Enabling Science, Technology, Applications and Research (FREESTAR) that incorporates eight high priority secondary attached shuttle experiments.(Source: NASA) A close-up image of astronaut Rick D. Husband, STS-107 mission commander, shows on a nearby television monitor during a pre-flight press conference at Johnson Space Center (JSC). The entire crew can be seen in the background. From the left are Ilan Ramon, payload specialist representing the Israeli Space Agency; astronauts Laurel B. Clark, Michael P. Anderson, Kalpana Chawla, David M. Brown, all mission specialists; William C. McCool, pilot, and Husband.(Source: NASA) STS-107 Mission Specialist David Brown gets a final suit fit as part of launch preparations. STS-107 is a mission devoted to research and will include more than 80 experiments that will study Earth and space science, advanced technology development, and astronaut health and safety. The payload on Space Shuttle Columbia includes FREESTAR (Fast Reaction Experiments Enabling Science, Technology, Applications and Research) and the SHI Research Double Module (SHI/RDM), known as SPACEHAB. Experiments on the module range from material sciences to life sciences.(Source: NASA) The STS-107 crew heads for the Astrovan and a ride to Launch Pad 39A for a simulated launch countdown. From left are Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon, Mission Specialist Kalpana Chawla, Payload Commander Michael Anderson, Mission Specialist David Brown, Pilot William "Willie" McCool, Mission Specialist Laurel Clark and Commander Rick Husband. The countdown is part of Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test activities. STS-107 is a mission devoted to research and will include more than 80 experiments that will study Earth and space science, advanced technology development, and astronaut health and safety. Launch is planned for Jan. 16, 2003, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. EST aboard Space Shuttle Columbia.(Source: NASA) Astronaut Rick D. Husband, STS-107 mission commander, occupies the commander’s station on the forward flight deck of the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Columbia.(Source: NASA) Astronaut William C. McCool, STS-107 pilot, works with supportive gear for experiments on the SPACEHAB Research Double Module aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia.(Source: NASA) Astronaut William C. McCool, STS-107 pilot, is pictured on the aft flight deck of the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Columbia.(Source: NASA) Astronaut Kalpana Chawla (foreground) and Laurel B. Clark, STS-107 mission specialists, work in the SPACEHAB Research Double Module aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia.(Source: NASA) Astronauts Laurel B. Clark and Rick D. Husband, STS-107 mission specialist and mission commander, respectively, are pictured near supportive equipment for experiments on the SPACEHAB Research Double Module aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia.(Source: NASA) Astronaut Laurel B. Clark, STS-107 mission specialist, is pictured near overhead windows on the aft flight deck of the Space Shuttle Columbia. Clark is holding a video camera while an additional video camera and a digital still camera float freely nearby.(Source: NASA) Astronaut Kalpana Chawla, STS-107 mission specialist, is pictured on the flight deck of the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Columbia.(Source: NASA) Astronaut Laurel B. Clark, STS-107 mission specialist, takes a brief break from science research on the mid deck of the Space Shuttle Columbia. A sleep area, composed of adjacent bunk beds, is just out of frame at left.(Source: NASA) Astronaut Rick D. Husband, STS-107 mission commander, is photographed near the control panels and windows on the aft flight deck of the Space Shuttle Columbia.(Source: NASA) Astronaut Michael P. Anderson, STS-107 payload commander, is pictured on the aft flight deck of the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Columbia.(Source: NASA) Astronaut David M. Brown, STS-107 mission specialist, looks over paperwork as he prepares to work with experiments on the SPACEHAB Research Double Module aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia.(Source: NASA) Ilan Ramon, STS-107 payload specialist representing the Israeli Space Agency,
joined his six crewmates in getting the Space Shuttle Columbia and its SPACEHAB Research Double Module ready for 16 days of scientific research.(Source: NASA) Three STS-107 crewmembers are pictured prior to their sleep shift in bunk beds on the middeck of the Space Shuttle Columbia. From the left are astronauts Laurel B. Clark, mission specialist; Rick D. Husband, mission commander; and Kalpana Chawla, mission specialist. Husband, Clark, Chawla, and payload specialist Ilan Ramon (out of frame) were members of the Red shift team. Ramon represents the Israeli Space Agency.(Source: NASA) The Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia STS-107 mission, launched January 16, 2003, is strictly a multidiscipline microgravity and Earth science research mission involving 80-plus International experiments tp be performed during 16-days, many of which will be managed by the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The majority of the research will be conducted in the Shuttle's middeck, the area directly under the cockpit, and in the new SPACEHAB Research Double Module. This is the first flight for that module, which doubles the volume available for experiments and significantly increases the amount and complexity of research from the last dedicated Shuttle science mission, STS-95, flown in 1998 with a single SPACEHAB module. The pressurized module is carried in Columbia's payload bay and is accessible to the crew via a turnel from the Shuttle's middeck. This onboard photo shows the SPACEHAB Research Double Module in Columbia's payload bay, back dropped by the shuttle vertical stabilizer, the blackness of space, and a thin slice of Earth's horizon. The first shuttle mission in 2003, the STS-107 mission marks the 113th flight overall in NASA's Space Shuttle program, and the 28th flight of the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia.(Source: NASA) The space shuttle Columbia disintegrates above Texas during re-entry. (Source: Robert McCullough) The now-famous photograph of Space Shuttle Columbia breaking apart over East Texas in 2003, snapped by physician Dr. Scott Liberman. NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe at briefing following the loss of the STS-107 crew.(Source: NASA) Weather satellites picked up the debris field of Space Shuttle Columbia on Feb. 1, 2004, after it broke apart on re-entry. (Source: NASA/Wikimedia Commons) A helicopter crash near Broaddus, Texas killed two volunteers involved in the search and recovery efforts for Space Shuttle Columbia. Pilot Buzz Mier and Charles Krenek perished in the crash. A helicopter crash near Broaddus, Texas in March 2003 killed two volunteers involved in the search and recovery efforts for Space Shuttle Columbia. Pilot Buzz Mier and Charles Krenek perished in the crash.(Source: 'Remembering Columbia' Museum) Debris from the Space Shuttle Columbia is collected and analyzed. (Source: NASA/Wikipedia) In memory of the Space Shuttle Columbia crewmembers who lost their lives on February 1, 2003, a massive collection of flowers, balloons, flags, signs, and other arrangements were placed at the Johnson Space Center sign at the Center's main entrance.(NASA/ Johnson Space Center | Source: NASA) The individual crewmembers portraits of STS-107, Space Shuttle Columbia, were on display during the memorial service held in the First Baptist Church, Lufkin, Texas.(Source: NASA) The First Baptist Church Choir of Lufkin Texas, under the direction of Brent Dyer, perform “A Might Fortress is Our God” during the memorial service honoring the Space Shuttle Columbia crewmembers. The STS-107 crew portrait is visible on the large screen.(Source: NASA) The flight deck windows recovered from space shuttle Columbia are part of a permanent memorial, “Forever Remembered,” in the Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. NASA and astronaut families collaborated on the memorial designed to honor the crews lost on missions STS-51L and STS-107, pay tribute to shuttle vehicles Challenger and Columbia, and emphasize the importance of learning from the past. Encompassing nearly 2,000 square feet, the memorial contains the largest collection of memorabilia and personal items of both flight crews. It also includes recovered hardware from both Challenger and Columbia, never before displayed for the public.(Source: NASA) A memorial service at the Patricia Huffman Smith NASA Museum in Hemphill is planned for Saturday to commemorate the 17th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy. (Source: PHS NASA Museum)(PHS NASA Museum) Two decades after the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, a museum is working to educate a new generation of kids about the legacy and importance of that mission.(Source: KTRE staff)