The US space agency NASA has confirmed that all seven members of the crew abroad the space shuttle Columbia have been killed.
The shuttle disintegrated as it re-entered the Earth's atmosphere, minutes before it was due to land in Florida this afternoon.
Debris from the shuttle is reported to be spread over a hundred mile radius but there are no reports of any injuries.
The US space agency NASA has announced it will halt all future scheduled space flights until the cause of today's shuttle crash can be determined.
President George W Bush has paid tribute to the seven astronauts who died on board the space shuttle.
In a televised address this evening, the US president described the astronuats as heros and said space exploration would continue despite the tragedy.
