The Columbia crew

Among the team was the first Israeli to go to space, Ilan Ramon. Four were on their first shuttle mission.

Ilan Ramon, 48, a colonel in the Israeli Air Force, was a fighter pilot, and the first Israeli to go into space.

He received a bachelor of science in electronics and computer engineering from the University of Tel Aviv, Israel, in 1987. Ramon was married with four children.

Rick Husband, 45, a colonel in the US Air Force, was a test pilot and veteran of one spaceflight.

He served as commander for the flight and was due to guide in and land the shuttle. He was married with two children.

William McCool, 41, a commander in the US Navy, was a former test pilot prior to the mission.

He was selected by Nasa in 1996 and served as pilot for what was his first shuttle mission. He was married.

Michael Anderson, 43, a lieutenant colonel in the US Air Force, was a former instructor pilot and tactical officer, and a veteran of one spaceflight.

Prior to the flight, Anderson had more than 211 hours experience in space. He was married.

David Brown, 46, a captain in the US Navy, was a naval aviator and flight surgeon.

Selected by Nasa in 1996, he served as mission specialist 1 for what was his first shuttle flight. He was not married.

Kalpana Chawla, 41, was an aerospace engineer and an FAA Certified Flight Instructor.

She served as Flight Engineer and Mission Specialist 2 on the shuttle, and had nearly 400 hours of experience in space. She was married.

Laurel Clark, 41, a commander (captain-select) in the US Navy and a naval flight surgeon, was Mission Specialist 4 on what was her first shuttle mission. She was married with an eight-year-old son.