Johnson Pays Tribute to STS-107 Across East Texas 

Nacogdoches, Texas: 
Rededication of Nacogdoches’ Columbia Court in honor of the 20th anniversary of STS-107  

On Feb. 1, 2023, NASA’s Johnson Space Center’s Associate Center Director Donna Shafer, along with representatives from Texas A&M Forest Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and the City of Nacogdoches paid tribute to the crew of Columbia as well as two forest service workers that were killed in a helicopter crash during search and recovery efforts of STS-107.  

“This East Texas city, Texas and U.S. Forest Service, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency were crucial in the major Columbia recovery efforts that required a cast of thousands, and we are forever grateful for your contributions,” said Johnson Space Center Associate Director Donna Shafer at the rededication ceremony.  

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*Guests recite the Pledge of Allegiance at Banita Creek Park on Wednesday, Feb 01, 2023 in Nacogdoches, Texas. Credits: Michael Miller/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications*

Almost two months after the Columbia tragedy, Charles Krenek, an aviation specialist with the Texas Forest Service, and Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters' pilot, Jules F. "Buzz" Mier Jr., were searching for space shuttle debris in East Texas when they were both killed in a helicopter accident. Reports states that the helicopter lost power to the rotors and took a fatal nosedive into the Angelina National Forest.  

Planted in Banita Creek Park shortly after the Columbia tragedy in 2003, are seven trees in what is called “Columbia Court” in the park in honor of the STS-107 crew. While the representatives of the Feb. 1 event participated in a rededication of those original seven trees, they also unveiled two newly planted trees honoring the late Charles Krenek of Texas A&M Forest Service and Jules “Buzz” Mier Jr., a U.S. Forest Service contract pilot. 

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Donna Shafer, Associate Director of the NASA Johnson Space Center, from left, Al Davis, Interim Director of the Texas A&M Forest Service, Mark Krenek, son of Charles Krenek, who died in the search and recovery efforts, and Kimpton Cooper, Forest Supervisor for the National Forest and Grasslands in Texas, pose with a memorial marker remembering the Columbia Disaster. Credits: Michael Miller/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications

“While these teams spent months on the ground scouring woods and fields for shuttle materials, we also had many teams in the air, including some who made the ultimate sacrifice,” said Shafer. “Just like the crew, today we remember and honor extended crew members, Charles and Buzz—all of these brave heroes gave their lives in the pursuit of advancing human achievement and their service to our nation will be forever remembered.” 
 
 

Photos from the event can be found here.

Hemphill, Texas:

Anniversary Program “STS-107 Still Our Mission: 20 Years Later” Remarks

NASA's Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche made her way throughout East Texas to honor the lives and accomplishments of the STS-107 crew. The director presented a moving speech commemorating the 20th anniversary memorial, "Remembering Columbia," at the First Baptist Church and Columbia Museum Auditorium in Hemphill, TX. Honored were Commander Rick Husband; Pilot Willie McCool; Payload Commander Mike Anderson; Mission Specialists Dave Brown, Kalpana Chawla, affectionally called KC, and Laurel Clark; and Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon. 

The multi-day honorary event was hosted and planned by NASA Alumni League. Participants were treated to a NASA exhibit trailer, robotics competition presentation, panel discussions by NASA experts, and a wine and cheese reception hosted by Columbia Museum and the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. (VFW).

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Johnson director Vanessa Wyche poses with members of the Hemphill’s Patricia Huffman Smith ‘Remembering Columbia’ Museum. From left are, Vanessa Wyche, Marsha Cooper, Belinda Gay, and Veronica Thomas. Credits: NASA/Jasmine Nehilla

The Hemphill, TX, community gathered to share heartfelt stories and cherished memories of the crew. "I'd like to thank this community for your support of NASA in 2003 and for the relationship we have maintained over years commemorating STS-107 and the crew. I had several teammates that were a part of the recovery efforts here, and each one of them shared with me their gratitude for the outpouring of support from this community," said Wyche. "These brave heroes gave their lives in the pursuit of advancing human achievement."

The Columbia STS-107 mission completed numerous microgravity experiments in life sciences, material sciences, fluid physics, and more. Columbia was approximately 15 minutes from landing on the morning of Feb. 1, 2003, when Mission Control lost contact. A piece of foam, falling from the external tank during launch, had breached the spacecraft wing, leading to the breakup of the orbiter upon re-entry. Columbia was destroyed over East Texas on its landing descent to Kennedy Space Center.

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Johnson Director Vanessa Wyche and NASA Alumni League member Natalie Saiz view the the museum’s exhibits. Credits: NASA/Jasmine Nehilla — *Johnson Director Vanessa Wyche and NASA Alumni League member Natalie Saiz view the museum’s exhibits. Credits: NASA/Jasmine Nehilla*

The legacy of the astronauts who advanced human spaceflight exploration will always be remembered. After the Columbia tragedy, the space center redesigned the shuttle's external tank and focused on safety as the primary objective. "We have learned hard lessons from each of our tragedies, lessons that have changed NASA and aligned our focus to prioritize our culture of safety in every mission, every day," said Wyche. "Over the past week, across the agency, we've honored our fallen heroes with NASA's Day of Remembrance. It is a time to reflect on the legacy of their pursuits and everything the extended NASA family has sacrificed to achieve it." 

Photos from the event can be found here.