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UAW Mourns Loss of Space Shuttle Columbia

At approximately 8:00AM Central Time February 01, 2003, NASA lost contact with the Space Shuttle Columbia over Texas. Early reports indicate the Space shuttle Columbia apparently disintegrated in flames over Texas minutes before it was to land.

The UAW joins the nation in mourning this tragic event. The crew consisting of Rick Husband, Kalpana Chawla, William McCool, back row, David Brown, Laurel Clark, Michael Anderson and Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon is presumed lost.

The UAW is very proud of the role our members play in the shuttle program. All four space shuttles currently in use were built by members of Local 887, who work for Boeing North American in Palmdale, California. Shuttle engines are built by Local 887 members at Boeing North American's Rocketdyne Division in Canoga Park, California. The external fuel tanks are constructed by UAW members at Local 1921 that work for Lockheed Martin's Mischoud Assembly Division in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the crew.

Columbia Shuttle Crew