Columbia Aftershocks

Nine years ago today, space shuttle Columbia was torn apart during re-entry. It has always been clear that launch and re-entry were the two most dangerous elements of a manned spaceflight, but somehow losing Columbia was a particular shock.

The accident led to fundamental changes. The Bush administration undertook a high level review of NASA's manned spaceflight effort and decided to end the shuttle program, replacing it with Constellation, a capsule-based program that would establish a manned lunar base and go on to put astronauts on Mars. Constellation was underfunded, however, and the Obama administration canceled it.

Current U. S. manned space policy focuses on building a technological infrastructure that will support deep space missions and a broad, permanent move into space. If a Republican wins the White House this year, that policy will likely be replaced, with Newt Gingrich pushing fundamental change and aggressive goals. while Mitt Romney seems interested in putting his own stamp on the space program.

All that began with a fireball in the skies over Texas.