[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 5, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H278]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING SACRIFICE OF CREW OF SPACE SHUTTLE ``COLUMBIA'' IN QUEST TO 
                         EXPAND HUMAN KNOWLEDGE

  (Mr. CRANE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, last Saturday we lost seven of mankind's 
finest. The crew of the space shuttle Columbia made the ultimate 
sacrifice, not in a feat of arms, but in the noble quest to expand 
human knowledge. My deepest thoughts and prayers go to the families of 
those brave men and women lost in this accident. Their loved ones will 
be remembered with deep gratitude and admiration for their dedication 
towards advancing our understanding of new frontiers and discovering 
ways science can improve our lives.
  While space shuttles fly regularly, space travel itself is anything 
but routine. Its dangers are many, but the Columbia's crew was willing 
to brave them. We in Congress have a duty to them and our astronauts to 
find the cause of this horrific accident. We can never fully eliminate 
the danger, but we can manage the risk.
  When asked by his brother about what would happen if something went 
wrong, Captain David Brown, a member of Columbia's final crew, replied 
``This program will go on.'' He was right, but it will not just be this 
one program that goes on. No matter what setbacks confront us, humanity 
will explore the unknown, brave its dangers, and continue our drive to 
create a better world.

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