Profiles of Space Shuttle Columbia Crew

 NPR's Brenda Wilson profiles the Columbia astronauts.

  Learn about a trust fund for the children of Columbia's crew.

Enlarge image Crew members of the Columbia talk about the Teacher in Space program as a green apple floats in the foreground during an in-flight news conference aboard the space shuttle Columbia in this January 20, 2003 file photo. Photo: Reuters/NASA TV

Columbia's crew of seven included commander Rick Husband, pilot William McCool and the first Israeli astronaut, payload specialist Ilan Ramon. Also aboard were payload commander Mike Anderson, and mission specialists Kalpana Chawla, David Brown and Laurel Clark.

"Because of their courage and daring and idealism we will miss them all the more," President Bush said in a Saturday afternoon address to the nation. Earlier, he called families of the crew members to offer his condolences.

"All Americans are thinking of the families of these men and women. Our entire nation grieves with you."

Commander Rick Husband Photo: NASA

Rick Husband, Commander Rick Husband, 45, was an Air Force colonel from Amarillo, Texas. He was selected by NASA in December 1994. In 1999, he served as the pilot on a 10-day mission during which the crew performed the first docking with the International Space Station. As commander for Columbia STS-107, Husband was responsible for the overall mission. Prior to Columbia STS-107, he had logged more than 235 hours in space. NASA biography of Rick Husband.

Pilot William McCool Photo: NASA

William C. McCool, Pilot William C. McCool, 41, was selected by NASA in April 1996. A U.S. Navy commander from Lubbock, Texas, McCool served as pilot for Columbia STS-107 and was responsible for various experiments on board. The Columbia STS-107 was McCool's first spaceflight. He was married with three sons. NASA biography of William McCool. Listen to a Jan. 30 Tavis Smiley Show interview with Columbia space shuttle pilot Willie McCool and payload commander Mike Anderson as they orbited the Earth.

Payload Commander Michael Anderson Photo: NASA

Michael P. Anderson, Payload Commander Michael P. Anderson, 43, was selected by NASA in December 1994. In 1998, Anderson traveled to Russia's Mir space station. A lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force and former instructor pilot, Anderson served as payload commander for Columbia STS-107. Prior to Columbia STS-107, he had logged more than 211 hours in space. NASA biography of Mike Anderson. Listen to a Jan. 30 Tavis Smiley Show interview with Columbia space shuttle pilot Willie McCool and payload commander Mike Anderson as they orbited the Earth.

Mission Specialist David Brown Photo: NASA

David M. Brown, Mission Specialist 1 David M. Brown, 46, was selected by NASA in April 1996. A U.S. Navy captain, naval aviator and flight surgeon, Brown served as mission specialist 1 for Columbia STS-107. It was his first spaceflight. NASA biography of David Brown.

Mission Specialist Kalpana Chawla Photo: NASA

Kalpana Chawla, Mission Specialist 2 Kalpana Chawla, 41, was selected by NASA in December 1994. An aerospace engineer and an FAA certified flight instructor, Chawla served as flight engineer and mission specialist 2 for Columbia STS-107. Prior to STS-107, Chawla logged more than 376 hours in space. Chawla was born in Karnal, India, and emigrated to the United States in the 1980s. NASA biography of Kalpana Chawla.   Listen to Michael Sullivan's Feb. 2 report on the reaction in India to Chawla's death.

Mission Specialist Laurel Clark Photo: NASA

Laurel Clark, Mission Specialist 4 Laurel Clark, 41, was selected by NASA in April 1996. A commander in the U.S. Navy and a naval flight surgeon, Clark was mission specialist 4 on Columbia STS-107 and aided in on-board science experiments. Clark was making her first spaceflight. NASA biography of Laurel Clark.

Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon Photo: NASA

Ilan Ramon, Payload Specialist 1 Ilan Ramon, 48, was selected as a payload specialist by the Israeli Air Force in 1997 and approved by NASA in 1998. He was Israel's first astronaut. A colonel in the Israeli Air Force, Ramon was a payload specialist on Columbia STS-107. Ramon was making his first spaceflight. Ramon lived in Tel Aviv with his wife and four children. NASA biography of Ilan Ramon.   Listen to Linda Gradstein's Feb. 2 report on the reaction in Israel to Ramon's death. Listen to a Jan. 27 report on Ramon as Israel's first astronaut.

See videos that the Columbia crew sent back from space during the mission. The Space Shuttle Children's Trust Fund was founded in 1986 on the day after the Challenger shuttle exploded, to help pay the health and education expenses of the children of Challenger crew members. Now the non-profit fund, with the support of NASA, is taking donations for the assistance of the children of the Columbia astronauts. The Space Shuttle Children's Trust Fund P.O. Box 34600 Washington, D.C. 20043-4600

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