Doomed space flight CD on display

Laurel Clark had intended to write an article for the fanzine

A CD carried into space on a doomed Nasa mission is one of the poignant items in a new exhibition dedicated to the Scots Gaelic band Runrig.

The limited edition album was found among the wreckage of the Columbia which broke up as it re-entered the Earth's atmosphere in 2003.

US Navy commander Laurel Clark, a fan of Runrig, had taken it on the flight.

The exhibition is being staged at the Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum and Arts Centre in North Uist.

Mrs Clark, 41, had come across the band while stationed at Holy Loch on the Firth of Clyde and she had planned to write an article for their fanzine.

While in space, a Runrig song called Running to the Light was played and she told Mission Control in Houston how it reminded her of husband, Jon, and her time in Scotland.

Other exhibits at the museum include Malcolm Jones's first guitar and the tape machine on which the band wrote their first album.

Runrig was formed in Portree, on Skye, and became the most successful Gaelic bands.

Their first album, Play Gaelic, was released in 1978.

Columbia disaster Columbia lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida for its 28th flight into space on 16 January, 2003 Fifteen days later mission STS-107 ended in tragedy All seven astronauts on board were killed

The band is still together albeit with new lead singer Bruce Guthro, who replaced Donnie Munro.

Taigh Chearsabhagh is in Lochmaddy, the home village of band members and brothers Rory and Calum MacDonald.

Shortly after the disaster, Nasa released a 13 minutes long video showing four members of the crew making last preparations 30 minutes before re-entering Earth's atmosphere.

In it, Mrs Clark filmed the view from the window as they got closer to Earth.