2003 Micronesia In Memorium Columbia

Stamp Sheet Pays Tribute to Crew of Columbia

This mint sheet pictures the crew of the ill-fated Space Shuttle Columbia.

On January 16, 2003, Columbia took off on its 28th mission. A crew of seven astronauts was on board. The mission specialists conducted experiments at the International Space Station. After a successful mission, the shuttle broke apart during re-entry and all the crewmembers were lost.

A memorial to the crew was erected at Arlington National Cemetery. During the dedication ceremony, NASA administrator O’Keefe called the Columbia crew “heroes for our time and all times.” President Bush called for creating a “living memorial” to the crew by giving the agency a “new focus and vision to take humans back to the moon and beyond.” Encouraged by the reaffirmation of support, NASA has vowed to learn from the experience and continue its mission.