#46 The Final Flight of Space Shuttle Columbia - Evelyn Husband Thompson
Evelyn’s husband, Rick was selected by NASA to be an astronaut in 1994 and was the Commander of the Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003. While Evelyn knew that her husband always faced dangers inherent with being an astronaut, she was eventually confronted with a moment where she would have to trust the Lord, no matter what.
The following is a summary of the podcast interview above with Evelyn Husband Thompson. Many more details are included in the original podcast episode and we encourage you to listen.
Written by Jace Bower
Meeting Rick
Evelyn Husband Thompson was born and raised in West Texas. She gave her life to the Lord at the age of 13 and grew in her faith in the years after. She attended Texas Tech University and while there she met her future husband, a man named Rick Husband.
Rick and Evelyn had actually attended the same high school in Amarillo, Texas, but didn’t officially meet until they were in college. On their first date Rick was endearingly clumsy, almost spilling his glass on Evelyn. He also told her that night that he dreamed of being an astronaut one day.
After dating for five years, in 1982, they got married. Rick had been commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and they were moved around to various locations in the States until Rick was accepted into Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California, which was a critical step to becoming an astronaut.
Early Challenges
The early years of the Husband’s marriage were challenging. They struggled with infertility and suffered the loss of miscarriages. Eventually, their daughter, Laura was born about 7 years after they got married. They had found a good church and Evelyn was flourishing in her relationship with God, but Rick didn’t seem to be growing like she was.
One night she asked him about it and Rick confessed that he had had an emotionally inappropriate relationship with a female coworker years ago. The guilt had troubled him deeply.
As Evelyn and Rick worked through this challenging season of their marriage, they both looked to God. Rick’s relationship with God blossomed and he began digging deeper to discern his heart’s desires.
Rick finally had an epiphany. While he still wanted to be an astronaut, Rick realized that he needed to place his priority on his relationship with God first, his role as a husband and father second, and his career third. This marked a stark change in Rick’s life, and he began pursuing the Lord like never before, often spending an hour a day praying and reading the Bible.
An Opportunity of a Lifetime
While Rick and Evelyn were intentionally strengthening their marriage, God was drawing together opportunities for Rick to do what he had always wanted to do since a young age: become an astronaut.
In 1994, Rick received a call from NASA. He had applied to be an astronaut before on 3 separate occasions and had always been turned down. But this time, he got good news. Out of 3,000 applicants, NASA was asking Rick to join the newest class of astronauts.
Rick happily agreed and the family moved to Houston, Texas.
First Trip to Space
The transition to Rick’s new role at NASA was a challenge at first. The family struggled to find a rhythm in the midst of Rick’s busy schedule. He was studying and preparing to go to space and the workload was not light!
Rick demonstrated a devotion to his priorities as he and Evelyn prayed through this struggle. Despite the busy schedule and the taxing workload, Rick’s priority was his family. He sacrificed by getting up early in the morning, often as early as 3am, to study before his work day.
After four years of intensive training, Rick's big day finally arrived and he flew to space for the first time in May of 1999 as the pilot of the Space Shuttle Discovery, on STS Mission 96. It was a 10 day mission and they flew almost 4 million miles.
Evelyn was so excited to see Rick when the crew landed safely. They got to spend time alone together that evening and Rick told her all about his experience in space. But there was one question on Evelyn’s mind she had to ask: how had Rick’s time in space affected his relationship with God?
His answer surprised her. Rick said that he had not felt closer to God in space. Rather, Rick felt that God was just as close to him during his morning devotions on earth as in space. He had marveled at God’s glorious creation, but he knew God was still the same whether he had both feet on earth, or if he was hundreds of miles away from the planet.
Space Shuttle Columbia
In a rare course of events, Rick was quickly invited to return to space as the Commander of the STS Mission 107 on the Space Shuttle Columbia. The shuttle would not launch for another 4 years but there was already much to do.
The next 4 years flew by and in the final weeks before the mission launch, Rick and Evelyn prepared for his absence at home. Rick recorded a separate VHS tape for each of their 2 children, Laura and Matthew. On each tape he created a daily message with Scripture, a devotional reading, and gave them encouraging words.
Although he was in quarantine and couldn’t see the children, he was allowed to see Evelyn and they spent the final days before the launch in spiritual rest.
The day of the launch arrived on January 16, 2003, and the family watched the Columbia launch from an observation deck three miles away at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It was a powerful moment for Evelyn, filled with much emotion.
The mission was just over 2 weeks long. Because Rick was the Commander and was often communicating with Mission Control, Evelyn was able to hear his voice as she watched the NASA channel on TV. While most of the scientific experiments were rather boring, she enjoyed being able to hear her husband’s voice in her living room.
As the day for the Columbia’s return approached, the family’s excitement increased. Laura and Matthew looked forward to seeing their father again and Evelyn anticipated her reunion with her husband.
A Day of Expectations
The day arrived on February 1, 2003, and Evelyn and her children were treated like celebrities. They had been flown from Houston out to Kennedy Space Center in Florida and brought to the runway where the shuttle would land. Everyone was excited and Evelyn promised Laura that the day would be amazing.
There were bleachers for the audience to wait on and a large countdown timer nearby ticked off the minutes until Columbia would land. Evelyn stood with her children and Rick’s extended family waiting to see her husband again.
As the shuttle reentered Earth's atmosphere, it went into a routine period of radio silence for a few minutes. This was normal for vehicles reentering Earth's atmosphere due to the extreme speed and high temperatures. But unlike other shuttle reentries, Columbia didn’t regain its radio contact. Instead, there was just a couple of snatches of phrases, and then static.
As the countdown continued Evelyn didn’t hear a sonic boom, which would have been a clear sign of the Columbia’s approach.
Evelyn mentioned this to Rick’s brother Keith, a fellow pilot, and he somberly replied, “I don’t think there will be a sonic boom.”
Evelyn was confused and a pit grew in her stomach. She didn’t understand what was going on, but she feared that Rick was not okay. She suddenly noticed that the NASA personnel on the bleachers were quickly exiting with cellphones to their ears.
The countdown timer hit zero with no sign of the Columbia.
Tragedy
Evelyn and her children were quickly escorted out to the waiting motorcade and when Evelyn noticed the press. They were taking pictures of the Husbands and the other astronaut families and were pushing in to speak with them.
Evelyn was still confused. No one had told her what was going on. One secret service agent had said “I’m so sorry” to her but no other information was given.
Evelyn called her father. He answered the phone sobbing. He had seen on TV what Evelyn had missed from the landing strip.
The Columbia had broken apart in earth’s atmosphere, just 16 minutes from landing, killing all onboard.
The Darkest Hours
Evelyn was devastated.
Over time, more news surfaced and was shared with the families. They were brought into a conference room where the NASA officials explained what happened. It would take a lengthy investigation to conclude exactly what caused the Columbia to disintegrate but the initial tragedy was enough to rock Evelyn’s world.
The brokenhearted family returned home to a house that would never be the same. When Evelyn arrived at her home, decorated for Rick’s return, she went to her bedroom and sobbed. The long and painful path of grief lay ahead for her and her children.
Light in the Darkness
But Evelyn felt something mixed in with the sorrow: joy. During Rick's memorial service just days later Evelyn began worshipping the Lord. The sorrow was tangible and the grief severe, but she felt the Lord’s presence with her in a profound way that was indescribable.
Evelyn knew that God was holding her and her children close during Rick’s memorial service and would continue to hold their family for the 18 years since.
Today, Evelyn is quick to point out that God has still been the same every moment before and after that tragic day and has never left her side. Evelyn recognizes that there is light in the midst of darkness, deep joy in the midst of pain, and even humor in the midst of sorrow.
Evelyn Today
In 2008, Evelyn married Bill Thompson, and they are both active members of their church and local community in Houston. Evelyn leads a weekly Bible Study Fellowship for women and is a guest speaker at various women's gatherings. And just this summer Evelyn was appointed to the Astronaut Memorial Foundation Board. Her daughter Laura is now 31 and Matthew is 26.
Evelyn also wrote a book shortly after the Columbia tragedy called High Calling, which goes into many more details about Rick's journey as an astronaut, their marriage, the day of the tragedy, and more.
Their family’s story is an encouragement for anyone who has undergone the loss of a loved one. Evelyn and her children personally saw God carry them during those dark days and walk with them through the seasons ahead.
And they hope that all who hear their story will take to heart one of their favorite Bible verses, Proverbs 3:5-6, which says:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
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Jace Bower is a writer with a passion for justice and biblical principles. He writes at jacebower.com.
Win an Autographed Copy of “High Calling” by Evelyn Husband Thompson
Note: Winner must live in the United States.
Note: Winner must live in the United States.
Additional Links
“High Calling: The Courageous Life and Faith of Space Shuttle Columbia Commander Rick Husband” book on Amazon. Evelyn wrote this shortly after Rick’s tragic accident.
More details on Rick’s first mission to space on Space Shuttle Discovery, STS Mission 96
More details on Rick’s final mission to space on Space Shuttle Columbia STS Mission 107
Photos of Evelyn, Rick, and their children
