"It's been a rough couple of years for the United States."

That's the way Huntington, W.Va. native Andy Ferguson summed up his thoughts on the latest tragedy to beset the American people.

"It's such a terrible thing," Ferguson said. A skydiver, he often uses the Lawrence County Airpark in Chesapeake. "But I hope it doesn't stop the progress of our space program."

Similar sentiments were expressed by South Point Police officer Brian Efaw, who spent five years in the U.S. Air Force and is now in inactive duty.

"It's such a shame," Efaw said. "It brings back a lot of memories about the space shuttle Challenger. I'm still in shock, just in disbelief. You just don't want to see these things happen." Efaw said that the element of danger is part of the job for military pilots and for astronauts. Those who gave their lives in the Columbia tragedy accepted this when they chose their profession. "NASA is the same as the military. When you sign on the dotted line you understand there is a danger. It's unfortunate when these things happen, though."

Diane Miller of Coal Grove said she heard very early yesterday morning what had happened, and she and her family kept the television turned to a news channel throughout the day.

"My first thought was for the families. They were probably watching and were relieved that the mission was almost over and their loved one almost home and then this happened," Miller said. "It's terribly sad. I feel for them."

Like the Miller family,

many area residents watched continuous news coverage of the tragedy via television. John Graves, surveyor of flight information at the Lawrence County Airpark in Chesapeake, said the airpark has been extremely quiet today, with no activity.

"A few pilots came in, but they went home. We've had no flights today. The manager came in and lowered the flag to half-staff and went home," Graves said. " I am amazed at how much information there is, and how quickly they're able to find out what happened. They are working so hard to find out what happened and make sure it never happens again."