video transcript

Ten years ago, the Columbia Space Shuttle was ascending back to earth when tragedy struck. A portion of the wing had been damaged during take-off which caused the shuttle to break apart. The world watched in disbelief as white trails of smoke streamed from the incapacitated shuttle. The crew included the first Israeli astronaut and six Americans. On Friday, family, friends and NASA officials held a ceremony at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida to remember those who died. (SOUNDBITE)(English) EVELYN HUSBAND-THOMPSON, WIDOW OF COL. RICK HUSBAND, COMMANDER OF COLUMBIA, SAYING: "We remember the Columbia crew as colleagues, as friends, as parents and as spouses. My husband Rick was the commander of STS 107, I will talk a bit more about him shortly, but he was kind and he was a good leader. He was determined to see each crew member enjoy their full potential during the mission." The Day of Remembrance ceremony also commemorated the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster in 1986 when seven crew members died as the shuttle exploded shortly after liftoff.