Astronaut Learns of Mother's Death Aboard Space Station

Rose Tani, whose son Dan is currently in orbit as an astronaut on the International Space Station, was killed Wednesday when her car was hit by a train near her home in Lombard, Ill., outside Chicago.

Dan Tani, a crew member aboard Expedition 16, cannot return to Earth for her funeral; he is expected to return in January.

Source: www.abcnews.go.com...

That's terrible not much he can do in that situation.

it's a shame he cannot be there to support his family and attend the funeral...

here are a few updates to this story:

Station Astronaut Draws Support From Earth After Family Loss

Astronaut pays tribute to mother from space

her funeral will be held on Sunday, and Dan recorded a tribute to his mother from the space station which is to be played at Sunday's service...

his family is going to record the service so he will be able to see it, and he's already received a lot of emails and telephone messages from friends and family...

i wish him well and hopefully he'll have a safe trip home when he returns to earth in january...

Well, I hate to say it, but from reading the story, the silly cow brought it upon herself by deciding she was too important to wait at the rail crossing:

Police said Ms. Tani, 90, was trying to drive around a stopped school bus at a railroad crossing when her car was hit by a commuter train.

Whilst I have some sympathy for the dude that's stuck in orbit whilst his mother is buried, it's hardly news worthy and his mother risked the life of other people by being impatient. Serves the old bat right.

This is what can happen when people are selfish and ignorant of others where train crossings are concerned. That happened not far from where I live. The poor little girl was killed as the train derailed and she was flung out of a smashed window and crushed by the overturning train. Not a pleasant thought and worthy of considerably more sympathy than I'd ever give for the astronaut and his idiot mother.

Originally posted by stumason
Well, I hate to say it, but from reading the story, the silly cow brought it upon herself by deciding she was too important to wait at the rail crossing:

Police said Ms. Tani, 90, was trying to drive around a stopped school bus at a railroad crossing when her car was hit by a commuter train.

Whilst I have some sympathy for the dude that's stuck in orbit whilst his mother is buried, it's hardly news worthy and his mother risked the life of other people by being impatient.

i cannot argue with that... seems to be a total lack of common sense there... d'oh!