In 1981, I watched the first NASA Space Shuttle launched and it lit my imagination. Then in 2003, I watched the Columbia rain down in fiery pieces across Texas like falling star. Oddly, the footage of the orbiter breaking up was captured by my local ABC station, WFAA. The loyal and beloved first Space Shuttle and her final crew of seven all were killed and taking with it the entire Shuttle Program at NASA. 20 years ago today, we lost those seven brave souls and our lady Columbia across the state I live due to a impact on the thermal shielding by a piece of foam during take-off. For those that were invested in the US manned Space Program, the loss of OV-102 Columbia and valiant crew was a traumatic experience. It would take two years for the next shuttle launch in 2005 and while the shuttle program continued for years after, there was always a difference. In 2011, STS-135 was the final shuttle mission using my favorite Shuttle, OV-104 Atlantis. After this, the US manned space program have to rely on the Russian Soyuz capsules for the manned missions to the ISS...that is changing with the SpaceX system. Given the status of the Columbia as the first space-worthy American Space Shuttle (OV-102), she gained much popularity in media. While the name Columbia was certainly not new, this shuttle orbiter of the first launched STS mission in 1981 "Columbia" pushed the name into another level, especially in science fiction. The name "Columbia" is unfortunately taken from explorer Christopher Columbus name. Given the grim realities of Columbus expeditions into the New World, the origin of the name is tarnished. OV-102 was actually named after the privately owned American Sloop Columbia Rediviva of the 1780's that was the first American vessel to circumnavigated the globe and where the name for Columbia River comes from. The Columbia shuttle launched 28 mission in its service life that started April 12th, 1981 with it being the first shuttle to have a female commander of the 1999 STS-93 mission. Today, FWS remembers her and her brave crew. Wherever they are, I hope they know that we still think of them. Due to the popularity of the OV-102, FWS has decided to explore some examples of the Columbia in the realm of science fiction.
The NX-02 Columbia from ST:ENT
This laid down the name convention of the NX class being named after the NASA Orbiters. If the series have been allowed to continue the next three seasons, we would have likely seen the NX-03 "Discovery", NX-04 "Atlantis", NX-05 "Endeavor", and NX-06 "Challenger". In my head canon, the NX-07 would have been "Buran". The fate of the NX-02 was muddled by ST:ENT novels and the maybe non-canon (Beta-Canon) disappearance of the NX-02 and its later discovery in the Gamma Quadrant some 200 years later. One of the fitting tribulates for the crew of the OV-102 to the NX-02 was the Columbia patch was the seven stars representing the seven astronauts that died that February day.
The Columbia Orbiter from Cowboy Bebop epsiode "Wild Horses"
Much like the World Trade Towers being seen in productions just before the September 11th attacks, the Columbia space shuttle was seen in the 19th Cowboy Bebop episode "Wild Horses". The ancient spacecraft is by Miles and Doohan (insert Trek references here) used to rescue Spike's Swordfish II in orbit and then the ancient shuttle crash-lands. I missed this session when watched Cowboy Bebop back in the day and launching the orbiter that way would never work...but it is cool. This would air in America two years prior to the loss of the Columbia and it normally does not air today due to this. I've read that Columbia was edited out and the Atlantis was placed in for some edits and some still have the Columbia name still there.
The Columbia Orbiter in LifeForce
The Columbia Orbiter in For All Mankind
The Endeavor Orbiter in the movie The Core
This 2003 world-ending disaster film had its trailers released just after the Columbia loss and the trailers for The Core showed the Endeavor making an emergency landing (Miracle on the Hudson style) on the LA river canal system due to issues with the Earth's core. While the scene is cool, there was an issue. Due to distasteful nature of this scene shortly after the loss of the Columbia and her crew, the trailers were recalled for the process of removing the scene. However, the shuttle crash in the film was left and as become a favorite despite on completely inaccurate it is. Originally, the Endeavor was to land at LAX, but tighter security at airports following 9-11 caused that to be scrapped. That is two real world disasters that caused the disaster film to be altered.
The Columbia Orbiter from the TV Series The Cape
I too remember that day when the Columbia disintegrate and fall to earth like a shower of falling stars. Given Ilan Ramon was the first Israeli Astronaut the two weeks from the launch to return got full news cover here in my country.
ReplyDeleteThe loss of Colonel Ramon, one of the pilots who participant in the bombing of the Iraqi nuclear reactor in 1981, was major blow to a nation dealing at the time with both economic recession due to the dot.com bubble crash and the 2th intifada. To add insult to injury, the majority of the shuttle fragments rain down in the town of Palestine Texas!
As for the examples list I probably should add a few notes:
The Columbia disaster influence Star trek even before the introduction of the NX02 Columbia. ST:ENT season 2 episode 17 was aired 3 weeks after the failed reentry and should have include the burning of a shuttle attempting reentry, that scene was cut off.
Depending on the canon level you could include the Columbia class retrofit of the original NX class spaceships before and during the earth Romulan war.
That line of Spike as he light up a cigarette at the Columbia cargo bay as the old shuttle head back to rough reentry –"whatever happens, happens" is a chilling one as that probably what some NASA officials who knew about the damaged heat shield say among themselves as the real shuttle headed back home…
Yoel
This is a terrific blog you have here, simply stunning. I remember the day we lost Shuttle Columbia and her crew of seven explorers. This tribute to Columbia OV-102 is well done. Well done.
ReplyDeleteBSG:Razor had the Battlestar Columbia destroyed by cylons. I guess it wasn't released that close to the actual disaster, but it seemed like it was some kind of tribute.
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