It is rare
that outsiders catch a glimpse of the private lives of astronauts, especially
those who gave their lives in the pursuit of space exploration.
But a new
documentary, "Astronaut Diaries: Remembering the Columbia Shuttle Crew," provides
an intriguing look at the dedication and humor that spurred the seven
astronauts aboard NASA's ill-fated STS-107 mission, which ended in disaster
when the Columbia orbiter broke apart over Texas during reentry on Feb. 1,
2003, killing its crew.
At the same
time both touching and heart-wrenching, "Astronaut Diaries" is a one-hour
window into the two years of training that prepared the STS-107 astronauts for
their flight, based on 150 hours of personal video shot by Columbia astronaut
David Brown and his crewmates. Brown was planning to make a personal film about
his first spaceflight and recorded video throughout his crew's training and up
to the point when he entered Columbia's hatch, where onboard cameras took over.
The documentary will debut on the Science Channel on May 14 at 9:00 p.m. (Check local listings)
EDT/PDT (0100 May 15 GMT).
"While this
was not the film Dave was going to make...we'd talked about if for so long, that
it was unfinished business," said Doug Brown, David Brown's brother, during a
telephone interview. "But it really tells what it's like. You're seeing a film
from the astronaut's point of view."
Launched
on Jan. 16, 2003, NASA's STS-107 spaceflight was an ambitious research mission
to perform 79 science experiments in 16 days. Commanding the flight was U.S.
Air Force Col. Rick Husband, with first-time flyer William McCool serving as
pilot. Astronauts Mike Anderson, Laurel Clark, Kalpana Chawla, Ilan Roman and
Brown rounded out the STS-107 crew, which worked around the clock in two shifts
to complete their science objectives.
But the mission was lost during reentry,
when hot atmospheric gases penetrated Columbia's left wing through a hole
gouged weeks earlier at launch. A suitcase-size chunk of foam insulation, which
separated from Columbia's external tank and struck the orbiter's wing, was
later identified as the cause of the accident.
"Astronaut
Diaries" blends together David Brown's video with interviews and comments from
the STS-107 crew's spouses and families, which gives a depth to the lost
astronauts that NASA press conferences and media interviews sometimes can't convey.
"We can all
be very proud about what they did with STS-107," says Evelyn Husband, of her
husband Rick and the STS-107 crew. "But we're all personally thankful for what
they are as men and women."
The
program, produced by Brooke Barrows and BellaSwartz Productions, was
spearheaded by Doug Brown, who said that the relative anonymity of the lost 1986
Challenger astronauts - who were killed shortly after liftoff in an explosion -
in the public's eye pushed his effort forward.
"Making
Dave's movie was closure for me personally," he said, adding that he hopes public
will see the human side of NASA's astronaut program. "People don't know that astronauts are people too. I hope people can
relate, and that this program can relate, that it's still difficult and
dangerous work."
While the
documentary shows some long-running, but little-seen, astronaut traditions -
such as a card game that every shuttle crew plays before walking out to their
shuttle on launch day - it is the smaller touches that drive the documentary's
human message home.
At one
point, Chawla helps Clark tie up her hair so it will fit inside her spacesuit
helmet. Earlier - during training with the European Space Agency - Anderson and
his fellow crewmates, all highly trained professional astronauts, marvel at
their ability to get lost driving around Amsterdam while searching for the
historic Anne Frank house. Later, after finally finding a parking space,
Anderson puzzles over how to pay. The crew's enthusiasm, even after
experiencing several launch delays and hearing rumors of more, also crosses the
lens.
"What do
you mean, 'Why is this exciting,' we go into space, for the first time at least
for us," Ramon, Israel's first astronaut to fly, explains to the camera and
David Brown. "For me, it's exciting."
During a
video conference with his wife Lani, McCool describes the majesty of the Earth
seen from space and how it doesn't hold a candle to his spouse. He then reads
her a poem.
"Lani
supplied the tape," Doug Brown said. "And it is a powerful event."
While the
wonder of human spaceflight, particularly to the STS-107 crew, is highlighted
in "Astronaut Diaries," what is missing is a post script. The documentary
follows the crew up to the final minutes before Columbia's destruction, with
plasma flashes lighting up the orbiter's window during reentry, but shuttle
officials did know after launch that the orbiter had been struck with debris.
Any discussions between the crew, the ground or each other about possible
damage, which engineers at the time did not believe
would be fatal, are unseen. Also missing is the accident's effect on NASA's
space shuttle program, likely due to time limitations.
The space
agency grounded its three remaining space shuttles after the Columbia accident,
effectively cutting off its independent ability to launch humans into space.
Now, after an extensive investigation and two years of work by engineers to
revamp shuttle flight safety, NASA is again poised to launch a space shuttle
into orbit.
The space
shuttle Discovery and STS-114 crew, commanded by veteran astronaut Eileen
Collins, is expected to launch no earlier than July 13 of this year. The
mission, delayed since March 2003, will test shuttle and external tank enhancements.
A follow-up return to flight mission, STS-121 aboard the Atlantis orbiter is
slated to fly in September 2005, with astronaut Steven Lindsey commanding.
"I hope we
get back into space soon," Doug Brown said, adding that he hopes the public will think
about the rest of NASA's astronauts waiting to fly. "I hope they admire the
current astronauts, and I hope their hearts are with Eileen and her crew, and
Steve Lindsey and his."
"Astronaut Diaries: Remembering the Columbia Crew" will air on the Science Channel on May 14 at 9:00 p.m. (Check local listings)
EDT/PDT (0100 May 15 GMT). (Documentary, 60 minutes).
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