Kennedy Space Center to Host 10th Anniversary of Space Shuttle Columbia Remembrance Ceremony

- Michelle Snow

The Astronauts Memorial Foundation (AMF) is holding a ceremony to honor the crew of space shuttle Columbia STS-107 in remembrance of the 10th anniversary of the Columbia disaster at 10 a.m. EDT on Feb. 1, 2013.

It will take place at the Space Mirror Memorial at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

ksc-spacemirrorThe Space Shuttle Columbia’s crew of seven astronauts perished when Columbia broke apart during re-entry on Feb. 1, 2003. The STS-107 crew included Commander Rick D. Husband, Pilot William C. McCool, Payload Commander Michael P. Anderson, Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon, and Mission Specialists Kalpana Chawla, David M. Brown and Laurel Blair Salton Clark.

Ceremony speakers include Thad Altman (AMF president and chief executive officer), Jon A. McBride (AMF Board of Directors chairman and former astronaut), Mick Ukleja, Ph.D. (AMF Board of Trustees chairman), Evelyn Husband-Thompson (widow of Colonel Rick Husband, commander space shuttle Columbia STS-107), Eileen Collins (Return to Flight space shuttle commander), Robert D. Cabana (NASA Kennedy Space Center director and former astronaut), William H. Gerstenmaier (NASA Human Exploration and Operations associate administrator), and Robert Lightfoot (NASA associate administrator).

Six-time Grammy award-winning recording artist BeBe Winans will pay tribute at the ceremony by singing “Star Spangled Banner” and “Ultimate Sacrifice,” two songs from his latest album America America. “Ultimate Sacrifice” is an original song by Winans written as a thank you to United States military personnel who have given their lives in service to our country.

The public is invited to attend the ceremony. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will provide flowers for ceremony guests and visitors throughout the morning to place at the memorial.

Regular admission is $50 + tax for adults and $40 + tax for children ages 3-11. The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Commander’s Club Annual Pass is $63 + tax for adults and $53 + tax for children ages 3-11.  Admission includes the Kennedy Space Center Tour, featuring an actual Saturn V moon rocket, Shuttle Launch Experience, 3D IMAX space films, Astronaut Encounter, Exploration Space: Explorers Wanted and all exhibits, plus the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.

For more information, call 877-313-2610 or visit www.KennedySpaceCenter.com.

About Michelle Snow

Michelle is the owner and editor of CitySurfing Orlando. She also owns Zengrrl.com, is a freelance writer specializing in travel and entertainment, has authored/co-authored four guidebooks on Orlando and Florida, and is head editor/writer at TheDisneyBlog.com. She's lived in Orlando near Walt Disney World since 1995, and still finds there's so much fun to be had in Central Florida.
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