[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 467 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 467

 Commending the astounding work of the Southwest Research Institute in 
     discovering the cause of the Columbia space shuttle disaster.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 21, 2003

   Mr. Gonzalez (for himself, Mr. Smith of Texas, Mr. Rodriguez, Mr. 
 Lampson, and Mr. Bell) submitted the following resolution; which was 
                  referred to the Committee on Science

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Commending the astounding work of the Southwest Research Institute in 
     discovering the cause of the Columbia space shuttle disaster.

Whereas the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated above Texas on February 1, 
        2003, claiming the lives of six brave American astronauts and Israel's 
        first astronaut;
Whereas, through a series of tests, investigators at the Southwest Research 
        Institute and NASA demonstrated that the cause of the space shuttle 
        disaster began with debris that fell off the external tank after launch 
        and caused damage to a critical heat shield;
Whereas the investigators at the Southwest Research Institute demonstrated that 
        the breach in the wing's delicate heat-protection system was caused by a 
        1.67-pound block of foam that was fired by a gas-powered gun and fell 
        off Columbia 82 seconds after launch, and that such a block of foam 
        could cause catastrophic damage;
Whereas the simulation conducted by the Southwest Research Institute came after 
        months of careful research and confirms that the energy of foam impact 
        on the wing had been previously underestimated;
Whereas the Southwest Research Institute's ground-breaking discovery will change 
        the way space shuttles are designed and paves the way for safer space 
        travel in the future;
Whereas the Southwest Research Institute was founded by a philanthropist who 
        believed that science and technology are the keys to a better world;
Whereas the Southwest Research Institute's recent discovery lives up to the 
        premise upon which it was founded;
Whereas the Southwest Institute should be recognized for its unique ability to 
        utilize science and technology for the advancement of mankind; and
Whereas the United States will be forever grateful for the sacrifice the 
        astronauts of Columbia made for the future of NASA and space 
        exploration: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes and commends 
the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas for its 
outstanding work in demonstrating the cause of the Columbia space 
shuttle disaster.
                                 <all>