February 1, 2003 - 1:00 p.m. CST USA STATEMENT ON TRAGIC LOSS OF SHUTTLE COLUMBIA AND CREW HOUSTON, TEXAS, (February 1, 2003) -- We deeply regret today's tragedy, and our hearts and prayers go out to the families of the crew. The safety of the astronauts has always been our top priority, and this tragic loss is very painful to us all. Right now, our top priority is and will remain to be determining the cause of the accident as soon as possible in order to prevent it from ever happening again. We are also mindful of the crew of the International Space Station as they carry on the legacy of their colleagues. Our commitment to their ongoing safety and success remains steadfast. There will be a full investigation and we are working with NASA to determine the cause. Until then, it would be less than responsible to speculate. We will do our best to keep you informed as our understanding of the facts develops.

USA News | USA Home Page