A View of Columbia Point

by Cindy Howard

Perched high in the rugged Sangre de Cristo mountains, are two monuments in honor of the men and women who perished in the Columbia and Challenger space shuttle accidents. In a press release, dated June 10th, 2003, Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton and then NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe announced the naming of Columbia Point, a 13,980-foot mountain peak, in honor of the Space Shuttle Columbia's final voyage.

"Today, we name a point in the Sangre de Cristo mountains of Colorado in honor of the Space Shuttle Columbia. Seven brave astronauts perished during her final mission on February 1, 2003," Norton said. "Columbia Point is an appropriate honor the this shuttle's last voyage. Those who explore space in the days ahead may gaze back at Earth-and know that Columbia Point is there to commend a noble mission. The point looks up to the heavens and it allows us, once again, to thank our heroes who soared far beyond the mountain, traveled past the sky and live on in our memories forever."

"The people of NASA and the families of the Columbia crew are humbled and grateful for this unique American honor that the Interior Department has bestowed upon the crew of the STS-107", NASA administrator O'Keefe said. "When people look upon these mountains, they see a challenge of the American frontier-bold in vision, courageous in spirit and endless in horizon. The crew of Columbia, like the Challenger before her, had these qualities at their core. These mountains are a natural testament to their memory, their spirit of exploration and will endure forever."

On August 8, 2003, a contingency of NASA astronauts, family members of the Columbia crew, and friends formally dedicated Columbia Point. The dedication included the installation of a plaque and military flyover by four F-16's flying a missing man formation. The group was led by NASA astronaut Scott Parazynski, an avid mountain climber, who suggested naming the peak after helping to council the families of the deceased Columbia astronauts.

Since the dedication of Columbia Point, several colleagues of the Columbia seven have come here and have climbed Columbia Point in memory of their lost friends. Many others have given pause at this place as well (those who have sought the peak out, or made it a stopping point along their route up Kit Carson.) With great pleasure my family and I were able to spend several days in August of 2004 on a trip in the South Colony drainage, with Scott Parazynski, and a second group that he brought during the first anniversary of the plaque dedication. For myself, it was a second chance to visit Columbia Point, but it became a place to view the Columbia disaster from the perspective of the NASA family, and to make lasting friendships. As the space program readies itself for a return to flight status, safety is a strong priority. Simply put, space flight is inherently dangerous. The team at NASA knows the risks and are working together to control them to the best of their abilities so that America's space program can achieve success, and so that their family and friends may return safely home. It is an honor to have Columbia Point and Challenger Point here in our beloved Sangre de Cristo mountains.

May their memory endure forever.