The Space Shuttle Columbia and Amateur Radio

It is with great sadness that I record the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia and its crew. During re-entry on 01 February 2003, the Shuttle apparently broke up, destroying the craft and killing all aboard. The Columbia was the first spacecraft to operate Amateur Radio (Owen Garriot, W5LFL in 1983) as well as the first to carry a SAREX mission.

Three Hams were among the lost; Mission specialists Kalpana Chawla, KD5ESI, David M. Brown, KC5ZTC, and Laurel B. Clark KC5ZSU, as well as Pilot William C. McCool, Mission specialist Michael P. Anderson and payload Specialist Ilan Ramon. Rest in Peace.

My connection with this particular shuttle was more than casual. Space Shuttle Columbia, flying the First SAREX package, was my first verified contact with a space mission.

As the shuttle overflew my QTH in the Philippines, I managed to contact the Packet QSO robot aboard.

The excitement of that contact was something I will always cherish.

(at left, my confirmed contact (as KE2FB/DU3) with the shuttle Columbia).