"We appreciate your taking the time to join us, Ms. Caulfield," he began in a tone of gentle empathy. "On behalf of this broadcast's staff and viewers, I'd like to extend my condolences to NASA and the family of James Rowland. Our thoughts go out to all of you."

"Thank you, Gary. The support we've gotten from the public obviously means a great deal to us, and has been a particular comfort to Jim's wife and daughter."

"Can you tell us what sort of impact the tragedy has had on you personally? I know that you and Colonel Rowland were close friends as well as colleagues."

Don't choke up, she thought. Answer him, give him his follow-up, and maybe then he'll drop it.

"Well ... like anybody who suffers the loss of someone dear, I find it hard to put all my feelings into words. Jim's death has been devastating for everyone who knew him. He had a huge, warm personality, and it's hard to believe he's gone. He'll be terribly missed and remembered always."

"You flew several missions into space with Colonel Rowland, didn't you?"

One word. Don't choke.

"Yes."

"As crewmates on several missions, did the two of you ever discuss the possibility of being harmed in what is, after all, a highly dangerous occupation?"

Please, let's move on.

"I don't recall that we ever did. I think every astronaut feels a sense of privilege about being chosen to go into space. We're always aware things can go wrong and try to prepare for these eventualities in training, and I'm convinced it's because of this training that the rest of Orion's crew escaped the shuttle unharmed. But we really can't afford to dwell on the risks of our job any more than a firefighter or police officer can worry about them when he starts out each day."

"Of course, I understand, and believe it's one of the main reasons that astronauts have come to epitomize an almost mythic spirit of heroism to those of us who've only been able to see the stars from the ground, and dreamed of seeing the ground from the stars."

Whatever that means, as long as you please, please move on, she thought with an interim smile, having no idea how to respond.

"On the subject of your present duties as Orion task force leader, how do you intend to proceed with your efforts to determine the cause of last Tuesday's terrible calamity at the launchpad?"

Thank you. I think.

"Speaking in general terms, and that's the best I can do at this juncture, we'll assemble a team that will look at what happened and search for clues to help us isolate the factors leading up to it. Any forensic probe is largely a process of elimination, and it's going to require a painstaking examination of Orion's remains."

"May we assume your investigative team is to be composed of NASA personnel?"