I had a strange dream. It was February 1, 2003, I was aboard the Space Shuttle. Everything was going well. We were about to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere, transiting from the black night of space into the blue skies . A song entered my head, This Flight Tonight by Joni Mitchell ( although the version I heard was the cover by Nazareth). I sensed impending danger. I couldn’t move or speak. Things started to go wrong. I was on the ground. Watching a small collection of tight packed fireballs streaking across the sky. I wept. Seven brave people had not made it back, not this time.
This box is dedicated to the memory of the crew of Space Shuttle Columbia, mission, STS-107, its 28th, which burnt up on re-entry due to damage to some of its heat resistant tiling. They were:
Commander: Rick D. Husband
Pilot: William C. McCool
Payload Commander: Michael P. Anderson
Payload Specialist: Ilan Ramon
Mission Specialist: Kalpana Chawla
Mission Specialist: David M. Brown
Mission Specialist: Laurel Clark
I will certainly never forget them.
The box is made of Luan, Padauk, Yew, Pau Amarello, Sycamore and a small patch of Ebony (representing the damage sustained to the shuttle), The coloured bands are those seen, due to heat, on objects entering our atmosphere at speed. The main box is 166mm (long side) x 101mm (rear) x 50mm high. The rear fin, which is the handle to remove the drop-in lid, is another 35mm high. Glues were PVA and CA and the finish Spray satin Acrylic. The last shot shows the box as I envisioned it as I designed it, representing re-entry. Please, no comments about the bolt, I can’t use Photoshop and I’d rather it wasn’t there.
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