Ms. Ride also was on the commission that investigated the 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia disaster.

WSJ: Sally Ride, First U.S. Woman in Space, Dies

The loss of the space shuttle Columbia was less than one year ago.

CNN: Bush: 'It is time for America to take the next steps' in space

While at NBC, Lemon covered the explosion of Space Shuttle Columbia, SARS in Canada and numerous other stories of national and global importance.

CNN: About

Both Exxon and NASA faced similar urgencies after the wreck of the Exxon Valdez and the failure of the space shuttle Columbia.

FORBES

Dr. Williams blasted into space aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia, and again on Shuttle Endeavour where he walked out into the great beyond.

ENGADGET: UrtheCast to stream live HD footage of Earth from ISS, like Stickam for space

It was a gash on the wing of space shuttle Columbia that caused its destruction and the deaths of seven astronauts during re-entry February 1, 2003.

CNN: Endeavour docks with space station

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Four compounds used on the space shuttle Columbia could pose an immediate hazard to people on the ground, a NASA spokeswoman said Sunday.

CNN: Four compounds from shuttle can harm on contact

It has even been suggested that the space shuttle Columbia was deliberately destroyed to prevent the launch of a probe that would prove that people never landed there.

ECONOMIST: A possible explanation for conspiracy theories

He worked at ground zero, helped in the aftermath of the 2003 space shuttle Columbia disaster and waded through the damaged streets of New Orleans in the wake of Katrina.

CNN: The brotherhood of Disaster City

The Third Era began in earnest in 1981, with the launch of the first Space Shuttle, Columbia, a mostly reusable workhorse designed to ferry astronauts, research experiments, satellites and equipment into Earth orbit.

FORBES: Launching the Next Era in Space Travel and Exploration

The space station crew has been limited to two full-time residents since last year's suspension of space shuttle flights in the wake of the Columbia accident.

BBC: NEWS | Science/Nature | Astronauts may get time extension

To meet this goal, we will return the space shuttle to flight as soon as possible, consistent with safety concerns and the recommendations of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

CNN: Bush: 'It is time for America to take the next steps' in space