Updated 02 February 2003, 11.31

The shuttle broke apart on re-entry to Earth

This time tragedy has hit close to my home. I live in San Antonio which is south of Dallas where the shuttle blew up, and west of Houston.

It was amazing experience seeing the dust cloud slowly moving through our atmosphere.

Texas is known for its large blue skies but today the horizon was darkened, as though grimly showing respect to those seven who lost their lives.

Prayers

I am beginning to lose count of all the major historical events that have happened in my lifetime.

I know somewhere down the line we will witness worse things happen and we will forget temporarily about the Columbia.

The brave Columbia crew

After all, how many times a day have you thought about the Challenger disaster? The United States is no stranger to grief, but I am thankful for everyone's prayers and condolences.

Israel and India have my sympathies too.

The seven astronauts did not die tragically, their lives were not wasted.

What they did was for the benefit of all of us. God bless them."

Alyssa, 15, San Antonio, USA

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Your thoughts on the loss of the shuttle

There's not much you can say, except that the astronauts will all be remembered as heroes.

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