Crew of the space shuttle Columbia, declared killed by NASA

WASHINGTON, February 1 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – U.S. President George W. Bush Saturday, February 1, mourned the loss of the space shuttle Columbia, which disintegrated minutes before its scheduled landing, and hailed its seven-person crew as heroes.

"This day has brought terrible news and great sadness to our country," he said in a brief but emotional televised address from the White House. "The Columbia's lost. There are no survivors."

As Bush spoke, the U.S. flag atop the presidential mansion fluttered at half-staff in mourning for the crew, which included Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli to fly in space, and Indian-born astronaut Kalpana Chawla, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Ramon was a 48-year-old air force colonel and former fighter pilot who in 1981 took part in Israel's bombing of Iraq's nuclear reactor at Osirak, which set back Baghdad's quest for nuclear weapons by years.

Columbia's commander was Rick Husband, and his co-pilot was William McCool. The payload commander was Michael Anderson and the mission specialists were David Brown, Chawla, Laurel Clark and Ramon, a payload specialist.

"The cause in which they died will continue. Mankind is led into the darkness beyond our world by the inspiration of discovery and the longing to understand. Our journey into space will go on," said Bush.

Television images of the shuttle's final moments showed fiery debris streaking through the crystal-blue skies of Bush's home state of Texas, leaving several white traces where a normal re-entry would leave just one.

"There is no reason to believe this is linked to terrorism. But I want to emphasize: We are fully investigating," an administration official told reporters at the White House on condition of anonymity.

The U.S. leader had cut short a weekend stay at the Camp David presidential retreat, racing back to the White House on learning of the tragedy shortly after NASA lost contact with Columbia, only the second shuttle lost after the Challenger exploded shortly after takeoff in 1986.

Bush expressed sympathy over the "sudden shock and grief" of the families of the crew, and told them: "You're not alone. Our entire nation grieves with you. And those you loved will always have the respect and gratitude of this country."

"These men and women assumed great risk in this service to all humanity. In an age when space flight has come to seem almost routine, it is easy to overlook the dangers of travel by rocket and the difficulties of navigating the fierce outer atmosphere of the Earth," said Bush.

"These astronauts knew the dangers, and they faced them willingly, knowing they had a high and noble purpose in life. Because of their courage and daring and idealism, we will miss them all the more."

Bush learned of the tragedy from White House spokesman Andy Card, the same aide who notified the president of the September 11, 2001 attacks, said McClellan. The U.S. leader later heard directly from NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe.

Bush's national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, was informed at Camp David and sped back to the White House.

Columbia, minutes before exploding

Vice President Dick Cheney, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Air Force General Richard Myers, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, were also informed.

O'Keefe and Bush spoke at around 10:30 am (1530 GMT), said McClellan.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge contacted Texas Governor Rick Perry, as well as emergency response officials in Louisiana and Oklahoma, and sought to reach their counterparts in Arizona and New Mexico.

McClellan urged reporters not to read anything into the involvement of Ridge, whose post was created to shore up U.S. defense against terrorism after the 2001 attacks.

But emergency workers in the states contacted by Ridge were relying on substantial help from the U.S. military to secure debris that NASA warned was highly toxic, he said.

World Leaders React with Grief

Meanwhile, world leaders reacted with shock and grief to the loss of Columbia, stressing the contribution the victims had made to conquering the dangerous realm of space.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin praised men and women who had given their lives to conquer space "in the name of peace, science and the progress of civilization."

Putin addressed messages of condolences to Bush. "It is with profound sadness that Russia learned of the tragic death of the Columbia space shuttle team," he told Bush, as quoted by ITAR-TASS news agency.

Offering his condolences to the families of the victims, he said: "These brave people have given their lives in conquering the dangerous environment of space in the name of peace, science, and the progress of civilization."
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder told President George W. Bush: "Your country has again had the painful experience that exploration of the universe can cause human losses."

France's President Jacques Chirac spoke of his deep emotion over a terrible tragedy and the feelings of solidarity of his people with the bereaved.

In his message to Bush, Chirac said: "In the name of the French people, which has always been a friend of the American people, I wish to express the deep emotion and feelings of solidarity in this ordeal, which all my fellow-countrymen feel."

Italy's President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi told Bush: "The men and the women who have died in this tragedy are courageous protagonists in the long path towards the progress of science and to enlarge the frontiers of humanity," wrote Ciampi.

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan expressed deep sadness at the disaster, saying the loss of Columbia was a loss for all of humanity.

"His thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those who perished during the mission," a press statement said.

"The cause in which they died will continue,” Bush

Annan also expressed condolences to the governments and peoples of the United States, India and Israel. One of the astronauts, Kalpana Chawla, was born in India.

"Since space exploration knows no frontiers, the loss of Columbia is a loss for the whole of humanity," the statement said.

Other messages came from Romani Prodi, President of the European Union Commission, who declared his shock at the loss of those "whose scientific work benefited all mankind," and the Mexican government, which expressed condolences to the United States and the American people.

Alain Bensoussan, head of the French space agency CNES, sent a message to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) chief administrator Sean O'Keefe, saying: "I have just got the news of the tragic accident of Columbia which hurts us all.

"The world of the space community and I wanted to assure you of my solidarity. If there is anything NASA may require from CNES, be certain I shall make sure of all possible assistance."

Meanwhile, a small town in northern India went into mourning and prayer Saturday for Kalpana Chawla - the Indian-born astronaut.

Hundreds of people poured onto the streets in Karnal on hearing of the tragedy. It was there that Chawla - who became a U.S. citizen after traveling to America to further her studies - began her journey into space and first dreamt her dream to one day walk on the moon.