World sends words of sorrow as US mourns shuttle crew

A STUNNED world sent words of sorrow to grieving Americans after watching the dramatic break-up of the US space shuttle Columbia in the clear blue skies over Texas.

The world's other major space power, Russia, sent its condolences to Washington, but yesterday went ahead with the launch of a cargo rocket carrying food and fuel to the International Space Station (ISS).

The seven members of Columbia's crew had "given their lives to conquering the dangers of space in the name of peace, science and progress of civilisation", Russian President Vladimir Putin said of Saturday's tragedy.