MICHAEL ANDERSON :
The spirits of the seven astronauts answered the following questions :
MICHAEL ANDERSON :
"The shuttle exploded because of a serious sudden flaw at the automatic braking system. The impact with some considerable big rocks produced a general damage of the shuttle devices for keeping it on the trajectory for approaching the Earth. A strong heat invaded the pilot’s cabin and, afterwards, the entire shuttle. The explosion was imminent.
My dears, my beloved left alive, from America and from everywhere, I ask you from the bottom of my heart, do not forget me, like a rotten vegetable. I am not and I was not a hero, for I have not fulfilled the whole mission of my life : contribution to America’s space research progress. Forgive me, my beloved compatriots !"
DAVID BROWN :
"A main flaw at the braking system disturbed the thermal balance inside the shuttle. The spaceship became a lightning torch in a fraction of a second. Too bad it happened that way !
My dear survivors from the whole Blue Planet, I beg you to support the American people in Space research. It would be a pity to stop such a hard work, yet so interesting and useful to humankind ! My dears, there is life in the Universe ! We have fellow creatures on many other planets, but very far from our solar system ! Do not give up working and fighting against the elements of Space ! It is worth carrying this fight, my dear colleagues ! Farewell, my beloved from home !"
ILAN RAMON :
"The automatic braking system had a flaw at the entrance in Earth’s atmosphere. The explosion was imminent. We were hit by many very hard cosmic formations, and this had probably contributed to the unexpected flaw. Hadn’t we been hit so hard, we would be together with our families, colleagues and friends already.
My beloved, my most regretted, my most treasured dear ones, please do not mourn for me so desperately, as my soul burns like a flame of pain and impossibility to be with you ! I love you, I am always by your side and I will be close to you eternally…"
KALPANA CHAWLA :
"The question is very complicated. An explosion of a space shuttle is not supposed to take place so easily, as some ignorants may think. In ‘Columbia’ shuttle case, it is all clear : a simultaneous flaw of a series of electronic devices, whose main role was to ensure the thermal balance inside the shuttle and to engage the spaceship on landing trajectory. A lot of hard and sharp space formations had bombed the shuttle not long before placing it on the intra-atmospheric trajectory. I cannot tell exactly where did so many cosmic aggressors came from, but I suppose we entered by chance in a group of meteorites, or rather in the tail of a comet which departed from Terra.
I ask all my dears from Terra not to forget me, because I still love them all and I will always love them…"
WILLIAM MCCOOL :
"Our shuttle was involved in a space fight with a group of meteorites of different sizes, ranging from dust to a black shinny, very sharp and hard piece, which perforated the external wall of the shuttle. This extremely powerful blow produced a lot of damages instantaneously, among which a very serious one at the braking system. The rest could be seen from the ground.
My dears, my beloved who are still alive, I beg you from my desperate soul not to forget me, for I shall never stay far from your souls !"
LAUREL CLARK :
"The ‘Columbia’ shuttle was badly damaged at a few devices at the same time. The main cause was the strong impact with very numerous and very hard space rocks, which perforated the spaceship wall, and which violently shook us to fainting. The secondary causes were the flaws in succession, which took place as a result of the impact with the aggressive formations.
My dear Americans, my dear earthlings, I love you so much, as I loved my life and my noble work. Farewell, my beloved, and I ask you not to ever forget me…"
RICK HUSBAND :
"Our space shuttle was damaged not long before entering the terrestrial atmosphere. We were subject to a short and hard cosmic aggression from some group of meteorites, which emerged around us at lightning speed. I remained with the absurd idea it was an attack, led by who knows what hostile beings, who do not have in view anything else, except hurting people came from the Earth. Yet, it is a supposition, and I do not give too much importance to it.
I beg the dear ones left alive not to be despaired because of my death. My soul shall accompany them everywhere…"
9th February 2003