Photographs from the event chronicle look back on coverage of the Columbia shuttle disaster

Longtime Houston Chronicle photojournalists Karen Warren and Brett Comer have coated nearly all the things of their careers, from a number of World Championship for a number of Tornadoes And all the things in between, however this week they’re Trying again on the fateful day 20 years in the past Once they obtain phrase that the Columbia area shuttle has crashed over Texas.

Warren was despatched to Nacogdoches as quickly because the information broke on February 1, 2003, the place she remained for the remainder of the week overlaying what grew to become the epicenter of the seek for the wreck as authorities sought solutions for what occurred to trigger such a catastrophic failure. Warren watched because the Earthlings discovered doubtlessly radioactive particles of their fields and NASA astronomers like Mark Kelly arrived to seek for items of the shuttle themselves.

Tamara Bowden is seen kissing her son, Beau, 4, in the shade in downtown Nacogdoches where she left seven roses in memory of the Columbia astronauts in February 2003. A hunk of the shuttle came to rest in Nacogdoches after it exploded on February 1, 2003 (Karen Warren/Houston chronicle)
Tamara Bowden is seen kissing her son, Beau, 4, within the shade in downtown Nacogdoches the place she left seven roses in reminiscence of the Columbia astronauts in February 2003. A hunk of the shuttle got here to relaxation in Nacogdoches after it exploded on February 1, 2003 (Karen Warren/Houston chronicle)

(2/1/03) Astronauts Mark Kelly, left, holding a piece of the Columbia shuttle, and Greg Johnson, walk down a country road near the airport in Nacogdoches, Saturday afternoon after the space shuttle exploded and debris sprayed across eastern Texas.  .
(2/1/03) Astronauts Mark Kelly, left, holding a bit of the Columbia shuttle, and Greg Johnson, stroll down a rustic highway close to the airport in Nacogdoches, Saturday afternoon after the area shuttle exploded and particles sprayed throughout japanese Texas. .
Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle

STS-107 (2/2/03) McPowell stands next to what is believed to be the suspected damaged left wing of the downed space shuttle Columbia, on his property in Nacogdoches County, Sunday night.  He found the wreck Sunday morning complete with several damaged refractory tiles (NO ONE WANTS TO KNOW THE EXACT LOCATION!!!!) (Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle) HOOKRON COMMENT (02/03/2003): McPowell looks at it for what he thinks is a fragment From the wing of a shuttle he found on his property in Nacogdoches County.  Houston Chronicle Special Report: Columbia's Last Mission.

STS-107 (2/2/03) McPowell stands subsequent to what’s believed to be the suspected broken left wing of the downed area shuttle Columbia, on his property in Nacogdoches County, Sunday evening. He discovered the wreck Sunday morning full with a number of broken refractory tiles (NO ONE WANTS TO KNOW THE EXACT LOCATION!!!!) (Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle) HOOKRON COMMENT (02/03/2003): McPowell seems to be at it for what he thinks is a fraction From the wing of a shuttle he discovered on his property in Nacogdoches County. Houston Chronicle Particular Report: Columbia’s Final Mission.


Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle


LEFT: Astronauts Mark Kelly, left, holding a bit of the shuttle Columbia, and Greg Johnson, stroll down a rustic highway close to the airport in Nacogdoches seeking particles. Proper: McPowell stands subsequent to what’s believed to be the suspected broken left wing of the area shuttle Columbia, on his property in Nacogdoches County, Sunday night. He discovered the wreck on Sunday morning, full with a number of broken refractory tiles.

The city additionally grew to become a rising memorial to the seven victims who went lacking within the catastrophe as individuals gathered to pay their respects to the crew members. Watch the video beneath to listen to Warren recount a handful of recollections from these early days.

Houston Chronicle photographer Karen Warren remembers overlaying the Columbia shuttle catastrophe Video: Karen Warren, employees photographer

For Comer, who now works as a employees photographer for the Houston Chronicle however on the time was a freelancer in Houston usually working for the Houston Chronicle but in addition for Getty wire companies and the Related Press, he obtained the information by pager and headed straight to Johnson House Heart. The NASA dwelling in Houston was a well-recognized location for Comer who had been overlaying area shuttle missions for years by that time and had a badge permitting him to enter the property.

HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 1: Katherine O'Neill and her son, Zachary, of Laguna Hills, Calif., kneel at the entrance sign for NASA's Johnson Space Center where a temporary memorial is being erected for the crew of the space shuttle Columbia, Feb. 1, 2003 in Houston, Texas.  Columbia has collapsed on re-entry over Texas after a 16-day science mission and the seven astronauts on board are feared dead.

HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 1: Katherine O’Neill and her son, Zachary, of Laguna Hills, Calif., kneel on the entrance signal for NASA’s Johnson House Heart the place a brief memorial is being erected for the crew of the area shuttle Columbia, Feb. 1, 2003 in Houston, Texas. Columbia has collapsed on re-entry over Texas after a 16-day science mission and the seven astronauts on board are feared lifeless.

Brett Comer/Getty Photographs

Comer discovered a rising memorial for the lives misplaced as members of the general public and folks with shut ties to the area program flocked to Mission Management headquarters simply south of Houston to pay tribute. Kummer photographed Columbia crew member Ilan Ramon a number of years earlier coaching with one other Israeli astronaut at Johnson House Heart in a mannequin of the area shuttle. Beneath, hear Comer recount his recollections of the times after the shuttle broke up over Texas.

Houston Chronicle photographer Brett Comer remembers overlaying the Columbia shuttle catastrophe Video: Brett Comer, employees photographer

For extra info on the twentieth anniversary of the Columbia shuttle catastrophe, learn Chronicle reporter Andrea Linfelder’s take a look at Legacy of the Columbia Catastrophe at NASA.

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