Space Shuttle Columbia Memorial

On the morning of February 1, 2003, residents of Nacogdoches County awoke to loud rumbles and quickly realized the sound was more than the usual sonic boom as a wide, crooked trail crossed the sky and reports of an explosion that rattled windows and blew open doors flooded the sheriff's office. NASA announced it had lost communications with Space Shuttle Columbia, and news reports said the shuttle had disintegrated 39 miles above Texas. Debris from the shuttle fell across East Texas and Louisiana, with more than 1,200 pieces landing in and around Nacogdoches. President George W. Bush said the world had lost seven of its finest citizens, pioneers, and scientists, who had assumed great risk in service to all humanity. On board were Rick D. Husband, William C. McCool, Michael P. Anderson, David M. Brown, Kalpana Chawla, Laurel Blair Salton Clark, and Ilan Ramon, Israel's first astronaut. Seven trees were planted in their memory.

Nacogdoches, Texas · United States