H.Res. 507 - Space Shuttle Columbia
Floor Speech on Tuesday, February 03, 2004

On January 16, 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia lifted-off from Kennedy Space Center on a 16-day mission. The mission would take Columbia's seven astronauts on a journey of over 6 million miles. While in orbit, STS-107 conducted important microgravity research in areas that would impact the lives of all mankind.

When Columbia broke-up in the Texas sky on the morning of February 1, 2003, the 7 astronauts aboard her were 16 minutes from home. 16 minutes from completion of a successful mission. 16 minutes from seeing their loved ones.

The final "comm check" to Columbia from mission control at Johnson Space Center went unanswered. The families awaiting the crew's return at Kennedy were welcomed with an empty sky. For those looking up at the North Texas sky that morning, it was painfully evident that something horrible had occurred.

Today, it is our duty to honor the seven brave astronauts that perished in the Shuttle Columbia accident a little over a year ago today.

The crew included Commander Rick Husband, Pilot Willie McCool, Payload Commander Michael Anderson, Mission Specialist David Brown, Mission Specialist Kalpana Chawla, Mission Specialist Laurel Blair Salton Clark, and Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon.

Knowing full well the dangers of space flight, they faced them willingly. Because of their courage, we will miss them all the more.

During the past year, NASA has undergone a serious investigation into the causes of this accident. And over this last year, the agency has learned from its tragedies as well as its triumphs. The recent success of the Mars Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, shows that the United States is still a leader in space exploration. But we must remember that failures in this realm can often have very human consequences. Since the loss of Columbia, the President and Congress have been working to map out a clear mission for NASA and to restructure human space flight programs around that mission. As we continue this process, we cannot afford to forget the memories of the seven Columbia astronauts and that fateful day a year ago.

Yesterday, NASA Administrator O'Keefe dedicated a memorial to the Columbia astronauts at Arlington National Cemetery. In a place dedicated to fallen liberators and defenders of our freedom, it is a fitting memorial to honor those who gave their lives in the pursuit of knowledge and discovery.

President Bush has said that the cause of, "exploration and discovery is not an option we choose; it is a desire written in the human heart...We find the best among us, send them forth into unmapped darkness, and pray they will return. They go in peace for all mankind, and all mankind is in their debt."

Our sympathies go out to the grieving families. It is an honor to stand here today to honor the sacrifices of these brave space explorers.

I now yield to the distinguished gentleman from Texas, Mr. Lampson.