Evermore at Space Center Houston

Remembering Columbia after 20 years

By Texas Tech University

February 1^st, 2023

Feb. 1, 2003, marked a grim milestone for our nation. That morning, the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon reentry, killing its entire crew.

In the same instant the planet lost seven of its best and brightest people, the Texas Tech University community lost two of its own: pilot Willie McCool, the son of two university faculty members, Barry and Audrey McCool, and commander Rick Husband, a Texas Tech alumnus. But that dark day proved to be an opportunity for other Texas Tech alumni to demonstrate the spirit of loyalty and determination that defines Red Raiders.

As we commemorate the 20th anniversary of that day, Evermore had the honor of sharing, for the first time, the whole story of Texas Tech’s contributions and connections to Columbia’s final mission. In sharing that story, we brought together the Texas Tech and NASA families at Space Center Houston on Jan. 28, 2023, to remember their sacrifice and celebrate the undying spirit that remains.