Pen-Elayne on the Web

Blazing Across The Sky

Yesterday Robin had this "feeling of impending what-name," and of course it's only after the fact that we find out what these hunches mean. The footage CNN is showing of the shuttle Columbia breaking up over Texas during descent into Florida eerily echoes the tragedy-against-blue-skies of the WTC burning, and I'm sure the tinfoil-hat set is going to try to link the tragedy to some sort of sinister plot because this mission included Israel's first astronaut, Ilan Ramon, but I make it a habit never to ascribe to malice what could be better explained by tragic accident (or incompetence, but I'm not going in that direction today). The news is just hitting the blogosphere, and I echo the short, shocked reactions of Anne and Theresa, as well as draw your attention to these posts by Jay Zilber and August and especially Katie. As with Challenger, my heart goes out to all the loved ones of the shuttle members. Update: Jeneane Sessum (link at sidebar) found this story in the Observer International which seems to imply the tragedy may have been inevitable and possibly preventable.