US President George W. Bush said at a memorial service with family members of the seven astronauts who died on the space shuttle Columbia that "our nation shares in their sorrow and their pride."
"Their mission was almost complete and we lost them so close to home," he said."The loss was sudden and terrible, and for their families the grief is heavy. Our nation shares in their sorrow and their pride," he said.Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, flew to the ceremony with Mr Bush. John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth, also attended the outdoor service, were more than 10,000 mourners gathered.Mr Bush, First Lady Laura Bush and NASA chief Mr Sean O'Keefe were leading a group of politicians and federal officials at a memorial service at NASA's Johnson Space Centre in Houston.
Mr Bush earlier met privately with family members of the fallen astronauts.
Agencies