The latest incarnation of heavy metal stalwart Deep Purple [ tickets ] is set for a February tour of North America that will touch down in more than a dozen markets.

The outing supports the group's latest album, "Bananas," which hit U.S. stores in October. The set is the first studio album from the current Deep Purple lineup of vocalist Ian Gillan, guitarist Steve Morse, bassist Roger Glover, drummer Ian Paice and new keyboardist Don Airey, who replaced retired original keyboardist Jon Lord in 2001. Airey previously worked with Rainbow [ tickets ], Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake, Jethro Tull and many others.

The last track on "Bananas" is titled "Contact Lost," a Morse-penned instrumental that was inspired by the space shuttle Columbia tragedy. The Columbia broke up over the U.S. upon re-entry on Feb. 1, 2003, after a scientific research mission. The accident claimed the lives of its seven crewmembers, including mission specialist Kalpana Chawla.

According to a press release, Chawla, a native of India, was a fan of Deep Purple, and traded emails with the group for several days while in space. She took three CDs with her on the mission: the 1972 Deep Purple album "Machine Head," the 1996 Deep Purple set "Purpendicular" and the 1978 Rainbow album "Down to Earth." (Current Deep Purple members Glover and Airey were in Rainbow at the time "Down to Earth" was recorded.) The CDs were found among the Columbia debris.

"The band members were horrified and deeply saddened by Columbia's fate, and Morse immediately channeled his emotions into composing 'Contact Lost' within one hour of the accident," said a press release. "Morse is donating his 'Contact Lost' songwriting royalties to the families of the astronauts."

Deep Purple is considered one of the key architects of heavy metal music. The group first emerged as a psychedelic group in the late 1960s, but after lineup changes the group re-emerged with a harder sound in the early '70s. Among the band's best-known songs are "Smoke on the Water," "Highway Star," "Black Night" and "Child in Time."

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