Loss of Space Shuttle has message for all
The loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia is more of a shock to the space generation than even the events of 11 September 2001. The reason for this is simple: to those of us that watched grainy pictures of man's first steps on the moon, we all felt a part of the project.
For anyone less than 45 years old, it is probably impossible to imagine such a defining moment of unity across the world. We felt GOOD. Man, generally a proclamist of self agrandisment, at last did something important, dramatic and special, we felt.
The problem for the space programme was one of trying to top it: nothing ever came close to the first time we saw pictures of the earth from a spaceship - the image that remains one of the most sold posters of all time.
But since then, the work has been going on quietly and undramatically. We had become blasé about the fact that the Shuttle was delayed for a day or so because the weather window was not right. We paid little attention to the routine.
The saddening events of the 1 February, ironically, the first day of a New Moon, teach us something : did you know the names of the astronauts? No? Nor did we. The fascinating thing about that is that one of them had already spent over 400 hours in space - and two of the others were long-time crew members.
The lesson is surely this: just because someone is doing something familiar is not a reason to pay them no regard until it is too late. Yet that is what we do when we ignore accounts performing normally.
We send our condolences to the families of those lost in the crash. And regret we did not think them important enough even to find out their names as they flew up and down on our behalf. They were, after all, the keepers of our hopes and dreams.
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