[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 5, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1914-S1927]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               COMMEMORATING THE ``COLUMBIA'' ASTRONAUTS

  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I send a resolution to the desk on 
behalf of myself, Senator Nelson of Florida, Senator Frist of 
Tennessee, Senator Daschle of South Dakota, Senator Cornyn of Texas, 
and Senator Graham of Florida, and I ask for its immediate 
consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 45) commemorating the Columbia 
     astronauts:
       Whereas the United States of America and the world mourn 
     the seven astronauts who perished aboard the Space Shuttle 
     Columbia on February 1, 2003, as they re-entered Earth's 
     atmosphere at the conclusion of their 16-day mission;
       Whereas United States Air Force Colonel Rick D. Husband, 
     Mission Commander; United States Navy Commander William 
     ``Willie'' McCool, Pilot; United States Air Force Lieutenant 
     Colonel Michael P. Anderson, Payload Commander/Mission 
     Specialist; United States Navy Captain David M. Brown, 
     Mission Specialist; United States Navy Commander Laurel Blair 
     Salton Clark, Mission Specialist; Dr. Kalpana Chawla, Mission 
     Specialist; and Israeli Air Force Colonel Ilan Ramon, Payload 
     Specialist were killed in the line of duty during the 113th 
     Space Shuttle Mission;
       Whereas we stand in awe of the courage necessary to break 
     the bonds of Earth and venture into space, with full 
     knowledge of the perils and complexities inherent in such an 
     endeavor;
       Whereas the people of the United States and the world have 
     enjoyed rich benefits from the space program including 
     technological advances in medicine, communications, energy, 
     agronomy, and astronomy;
       Whereas we in the Congress of the United States recognize 
     that curiosity, wonder and the desire to improve life on 
     Earth has inspired our exploration of space and these traits 
     epitomize the intrinsic dreams of the human race;
       Whereas, despite these lofty goals, we realize that our 
     reach for the stars will never be without risk or peril, and 
     setbacks will always be a part of the human experience;
       Whereas we recognize our solemn duty to devote our finest 
     minds and resources toward minimizing these risks and 
     protecting the remarkable men and women who are willing to 
     risk their lives to serve mankind; and
       Whereas we will always hold in our hearts the seven 
     intrepid souls of Columbia, as well as those explorers who 
     perished before, including those aboard Apollo I and the 
     Space Shuttle Challenger: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That--
       (1) the tragedy which befell the Space Shuttle Columbia 
     shall not dissuade or discourage this Nation from venturing 
     ever farther into the vastness of space;
       (2) today we restate our firm commitment to exploring the 
     planets and celestial bodies of our Solar System, and beyond;
       (3) we express our eternal sorrow and heartfelt condolences 
     to the families of the seven astronauts;
       (4) we convey our condolences to our friends and allies in 
     the state of Israel over the loss of Colonel Ilan Ramon, the 
     first Israeli in space;
       (5) we will never forget the sacrifices made by the seven 
     heroes aboard Columbia; and
       (6) we shall learn from this tragedy so that these 
     sacrifices shall not have been in vain.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Texas.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. I thank the Chair.
  Mr. President, today I rise to honor the memory and the sacrifice of 
the seven astronauts whose lives were tragically cut short in pursuit 
of the newest frontier--space.
  America is a word, a country, and a people. America is also a spirit, 
an indomitable spirit of adventure and courage, one that defies 
complacency and accepts challenge. The American spirit knows no bounds.
  Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon also had that spirit, and so did Kalpana 
Chawla, who was born in India and made America her home. It is that 
spirit which President Kennedy harnessed in 1961 when he made the bold 
claim: Within a decade, America would put a man on the Moon and return 
him safely home.
  That same spirit enabled us to fulfill a great mission and make space 
travel seem routine, although it was never routine.
  It is that spirit which fueled the hearts and minds of those seven 
men and women who launched into the sky on January 6, 2003.
  On Saturday, we were reminded of the high price we sometimes pay for 
reaching new horizons. Our thirst for knowledge led us to explore 
space. Our curiosity, sense of wonderment, and desire to improve life 
on Earth prompted us time and again to defy the odds. Those heroes did 
not take their task lightly, but they undertook it with joy.
  Ilan Roman, the first Israeli astronaut, who was on that fated 
flight, wrote the following words from space:

       The world looks marvelous from up here, so peaceful, so 
     wonderful and so fragile.

  His serene vision came to a catastrophic end on Saturday morning, and 
that moment when the world awoke to the news that seven astronauts 
disappeared into the skies will be one etched in our collective 
memories forever.
  In recent years, America has borne too much tragedy and experienced 
too much grief, but our collective loss still sears our souls and the 
pain is never easier to bear. Today, just 4 short days after they 
vanished into the crystal blue skies of Texas, we pause to remember 
them and thank them from our hearts: Rick Husband, Kalpana Chawla, 
Laurel Clark, Ilan Roman, William McCool, David Brown, and Michael 
Anderson.
  And though the families' loss cannot be diminished, their pain and 
grief is shared around the world and our prayers are with them.
  Their sacrifice will never be forgotten. Their lives were not lost in 
vain. We will send more brave astronauts into the cosmos to learn and 
discover. We will continue to explore the vast sky that envelops the 
Earth and their names will forever be etched into the history of space 
flight.
  Rick Husband, a spiritual man, a Texan, the commander of the Space 
Shuttle Columbia, often signed photos referencing Proverbs 3:5-6:

       Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your 
     own understanding; acknowledge Him in all your ways and He 
     will direct your paths.

  Throughout history, our young Nation has experienced great heartache 
and tragedy. Each time, we have overcome adversity with boldness and 
tenacity. We have come back stronger than ever.
  With steely resolve and a firm determination, we rose from the ashes 
and embers of Ground Zero more resolute than ever before.
  Christina Rossetti, the 18th century poet, wrote a poem called 
``Remember.'' She could never have envisioned what this poem would come 
to represent, but it did bring me some solace in this time of tragedy 
in my home State of Texas. She wrote:

     Remember me when I am gone away,
     Gone far away into the silent land;
     When you can no more hold me by the hand,
     Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
     Remember me when no more day by day
     You tell me of our future that you planned;
     Only remember me; you understand
     It will be late to counsel then or pray.
     Yet if you should forget me for a while
     And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
     For if the darkness and corruption leave
     A vestige of the thoughts that I once had,
     Better by far you should forget and smile
     Than that you should remember and be sad.

  We will hold these seven souls in our hearts and eventually we will 
smile

[[Page S1915]]

again. We will rise from the ashes in the fields of Texas, Louisiana, 
and Arkansas. The quest for space exploration will not end with this 
tragedy. It will live on, it will prosper, for it is our duty, our 
calling, and our destiny.
  Yesterday, like so many Members of the Senate and House, along with 
the President of the United States and our First Lady, I attended a 
beautiful ceremony where we saw firsthand the families and the 
realization of their personal loss. We were uplifted by seeing the 
greatness of what these astronauts had done and what they are doing for 
the future of our country and our world. It is much bigger than just 
those seven astronauts, which I think their families and they 
themselves believed. They know this was a higher calling and that their 
sacrifices will lay the groundwork for a better space shuttle, a better 
space station, America staying preeminent in the world in national 
security and in medical research. I think they knew they were 
contributing to the future of our country.
  The ceremony yesterday really began our time of closure, our time to 
pay the respects to those brave young men and women who were willing to 
make this sacrifice for their children and their future generations, 
and to say that America is going to renew our commitment. America is 
going to stay in the forefront, because we know if a country is static 
it will begin to fall behind. We know we have been the first to reap so 
many benefits from space exploration, which we have shared with the 
world. We know there are many more innovations to come and that America 
will be there to find those discoveries.
  On behalf of myself and Senator Nelson of Florida, who is the only 
Member of the Senate today who has been in space, he will come later to 
also make a statement and then we will look forward to having a vote on 
the resolution.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Hampshire.
  Mr. SUNUNU. Mr. President, today I join my colleagues and millions 
around the world to express our enormous sorrow at the loss of the crew 
of the Space Shuttle Columbia and to extend sympathy to the crews' 
families and friends.
  This tragedy, like the loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger 17 years 
ago, has left an empty space in our hearts. We struggle for the words 
that might help to make sense of the events we witnessed last Saturday.
  A return to Earth that we have come to view as ``routine,'' instead 
has reminded us of the fragility of life. We are all subject to the 
flaws of man and the vagaries of nature. Yet these seven brave men and 
women accepted great risk as they strove to expand the intellectual 
capital of all mankind.
  For thousands of years, the heavens have inspired, intrigued, and 
called us to explore their boundaries. This unending quest for 
knowledge is the very essence of what makes us human. It is a flame 
that burns so bright. It burns so bright that not even the depth of 
this tragedy or the shock of our loss can quench the desire to learn, 
to seek and to explore.
  There is no doubt in my mind that we will move forward to expand and 
strengthen America's space program. And through the investigation that 
has just begun, we will find out what caused this accident and then we 
will fix it. But today, we mourn for those whom we have lost and offer 
comfort to those who have been left behind.
  The astronauts who fly the space shuttle are a unique and 
unparalleled breed of men and women. They inspire us with courage and 
intellect, and they sacrifice in service to their country and 
profession. But perhaps their greatest service of all is rendered when 
they reach out to future generations and plant the seeds of curiosity 
in a young student's mind.
  I have visited classrooms in the company of astronauts to see faces 
of children alive with wonder and awe. Like any one of us, our children 
want to know what it is like in space, what it is like to be a 
scientist, what it is like to be an explorer.
  Seventeen years ago when the Challenger was lost, among the seven 
astronauts was a teacher from New Hampshire, Christa McAuliffe, who was 
dedicated to nurturing and inspiring students not just in New Hampshire 
but all across the country. Her spirit and enthusiasm has been captured 
for future generations in the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium in Concord, 
NH.
  Each time I visit the planetarium, I am reminded that a child's 
curiosity grows into a lifetime search for answers to the great 
questions of our age. As long as we have astronauts to engage this 
curiosity, the quest for knowledge will endure and our space program 
will thrive.
  Generations of Americans have been inspired by their courage and 
vision, but today, thoughts and prayers of millions are with the 
families and friends of Columbia's crew. The sadness of this moment may 
well one day fade, but the memory of these seven heroic figures will 
remain forever strong.

  I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Graham of South Carolina). The clerk will 
call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SUNUNU. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum 
call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. SUNUNU. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent during the 
allotted morning business period, the time used in quorum calls be 
charged evenly against each side.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. SUNUNU. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, this morning's morning business has been 
dedicated to the Columbia tragedy which occurred over the weekend. I 
want to take a few moments to speak from the heart about my experience 
yesterday, traveling to Houston to be there for the service that 
honored these seven brave men and women who gave their lives in the 
Columbia tragedy.
  It was a bright and sunny day in Houston, a day which brought out 
literally thousands of people as they stood at the Space Center on the 
grass and waited for hours for the moments of tribute to the fallen 
astronauts and to their families. It was a military service, as those 
who followed it on television know, in the tradition primarily of the 
Navy. There was that touching moment where the bell was struck seven 
times for the loss of seven lives.
  It also was a service which brought out, I thought, the very best in 
our Nation in terms of coming together in the grief that has really 
clouded our lives since last Saturday morning.
  There were moments yesterday which I will not forget. The most 
compelling moments involved the arrival of families. You come to 
realize that these astronauts leave behind husbands and wives, 
children, parents, and many who loved them who will struggle for a long 
time to understand what happened. Most of them, six of the seven, were 
in the military--of the United States and of Israel. They understood 
the risk that was involved in their service to our country, as did the 
seventh astronaut. But with the success of so many space missions, I am 
certain they went into this flight believing the odds were on their 
side--and they certainly were. But they knew the danger, too, that was 
associated with it.
  I am sure most people can recall where they were when they heard of 
this tragedy. I was sitting with my wife in our kitchen in Springfield, 
IL, listening to NPR when they interrupted it and mentioned the shuttle 
radio transmission had been lost. It was clear something terrible may 
have occurred. Then, of course, in the moments following, we heard the 
details.
  I ran into a number of people in Illinois, both downstate in 
Springfield and in Chicago, before I came back to Washington and then 
went off to Houston, and all of them were touched by this tragedy, as 
they should have been. Some of them said to me: Senator, don't forget 
also the four soldiers who lost their lives last week in a helicopter 
crash in Afghanistan--and they

[[Page S1916]]

were right. Our prayers should be not just for the astronauts and their 
families but for all the men and women who have given their lives in 
service to this country. I know they are in our hearts and prayers.
  A lot of hard questions will have to be asked and answered in the 
weeks ahead. We will have to find out what caused this crash, to make 
certain that it never happens again. There will be a lot of 
recriminations and people pointing fingers as to whether or not 
everyone did their job as they should have, including Congress, this 
President, and the previous President. But that is the nature of an 
open society--an open debate, an honest debate to try to come to some 
closure as to the reason for this tragedy.
  Larger questions will be asked, and I hope answered, about the space 
program itself. This is a program which has been generally accepted by 
America as part of who we are and why we come together as a nation. We 
want to lead the world in the pursuit of science and knowledge and 
understanding. Our space program has been part of that. We will have to 
step back now and assess whether we are doing the right thing. We will 
have to ask and answer questions about manned space flight and the 
future of the space station, whether the shuttle is the best approach 
to serving that station, and our future needs. All of these are 
difficult but timely questions.
  Having said all that, that is the working of government. That is the 
working of the people of the United States, responding to this disaster 
in a rational, measured, linear way.
  But yesterday it was about much more. It was about these astronauts 
and their families.
  Ilan Ramon was the first Israeli astronaut. I read about him. I have 
heard suggestions that he was a man who was destined to be part of the 
space program. No one in his country had ever done it. He is a great 
source of pride in Israel and to the people who followed his career.
  Yesterday, some of the prayers delivered by the Rabbi and others were 
in Hebrew, as they should have been. They hearkened back to the origins 
of the Judeo-Christian culture that also contributed to this great man.
  Also, Kalpana Chawla, Indian--the important thing to recall is not 
just how good she was--and that story was repeated over and over 
again--but to recall that she was an immigrant to this country.
  I think that is something we should remind ourselves over and over. 
Immigrants to America throughout our history have made us a better and 
stronger Nation and have given us a special identity in the world. She 
contributed to that heritage, and her courage has to be recognized.
  The list of the astronauts involved--those who had been on previous 
missions and those who were on their first--is a roster of excellence 
and courage. Now it is up to us not just to mourn their loss and to 
comfort their families but to remember why they made their sacrifice 
and why they were prepared to run this risk. They were prepared to do 
more than most of us do in our daily routines. But they understood it 
was to meet a calling--a calling to which, frankly, all of us should 
aspire, to show the courage and to step forward to look to the future, 
to say that we each have to do something that is risky and on the edge 
so that tomorrow may be better for our children, for their families. We 
extend not only our sympathy but also our pledge to stand by them at 
this time of loss because they are part of the American family, an 
American family deep in mourning over the loss of these great men and 
women.
  I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Democratic leader.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, in 1920, H.G. Wells wrote:

       Life, forever dying to be born afresh, forever young and 
     eager, will presently stand upon this earth as upon a 
     footstool, and stretch out its realm amidst the stars.

  We have long since realized that vision, voyaging from our planet, 
putting men and women and machines beyond the reach of the Earth, 
traveling the ``airless Saharas'' of space, exploring new worlds.
  What we have been able to do requires the best minds of science, an 
audacity of imagination, and people explorers of uncommon bravery.
  Today, we mourn seven of those brave explorers. These men and women 
stood upon our Earth as a footstool, stretched out our realm amidst the 
stars, set out on a voyage of discovery--and did not return.
  I can only hope that our words, our prayers, and a world's shared 
sorrow will help bring peace to their families and loved ones.
  This space shuttle Columbia--like all space shuttles--was named for a 
sailing ship. The Columbia was the first American vessel to 
circumnavigate the globe.
  The crew of this Columbia were pioneers of the first order as well.
  There was Rick Husband, the Air Force Colonel and commander of the 
Columbia. He was dedicated to God, his family, and his crew. While in 
space, he sent an e-mail saying: ``I'm so proud of my crew, I could 
pop.''
  There was William McCool, the man at the controls of Columbia. He was 
an Eagle Scout, second in his class at the Naval Academy. Friends 
describe him as someone who always did everything perfectly but never 
developed the arrogance that comes with such success.
  There was Michael Anderson, who, as a child, dreamed of piloting his 
bunk bed to the moon. Michael Anderson never got to the moon, but he 
got a lot closer than most of us.
  There was David Brown, a physician, gymnast, and one-time circus 
performer. For all of his many skills, as his mother said: ``flying was 
his life.''
  There was Laurel Clark, the medical doctor and mission specialist who 
offered this advice for aspiring astronauts: ``Do what it is you love 
to do. You'll do a really good job at it because you love it.''
  There was Ilan Ramon--the child and grandchild of Holocaust 
survivors--who rode into space carrying with him the hope of a war-
weary country.
  Sadly, most of us are getting to know most of them only now.
  Back in Rapid City, SD, there are dozens of schoolchildren who got to 
know--and be inspired by--Kalpana Chawla.
  Three years ago, I asked then-NASA Administrator Dan Goldin if he 
would be willing to keynote a technology exhibition in Rapid City.
  At the last minute, NASA called to say that they would have to send a 
substitute. They said: ``But the good news is she's even better. She's 
an astronaut, and she's brilliant.''
  Dr. Chawla enchanted everyone who listened to her that day.
  She stayed for a long time after her talk to sign autographs and pose 
for pictures with children.
  A lot of those children in South Dakota are probably looking at those 
pictures today--and looking at how she signed them, for above her name 
she wrote: ``reach for the stars.''
  I can only hope that the excitement Dr. Chawla inspired in those 
children will never be diminished by her loss.
  Inspiring the awe of discovery in others, that is what all of the 
members of the crew of Columbia lived for, and it is what they gave 
their lives for.
  Yesterday, many of us were in Houston to honor their memories.
  In the days ahead, I hope we can create a living memorial by 
continuing to strive for the stars.
  In 1961, a satellite called Traac was launched from Cape Kennedy. 
Inscribed in an instrument panel of that satellite was a poem written 
by Professor Thomas Bergin, from Yale University. It was the first poem 
to be launched into orbit around the Earth.
  I want to read a few lines of it now:

     And now 'tis man who dares assault the sky
     And as we come to claim our promised place,
     Aim only to repay the good you gave,
     And warm with human love the chill of space.

  The seven astronauts of Columbia represented different races, 
different religions, different backgrounds, and, in one case, a 
different country. But they were united by their desire to solve the 
mysteries of the universe and to make life better for all people.
  In living that hope--and dying with it--their lives will forever 
inspire us.

[[Page S1917]]

And their memories will warm the chill of space.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Connecticut.
  Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I rise to offer some comments in 
response to the Columbia shuttle disaster that we all learned about 
last Saturday. Since then, we Americans and most of the rest of the 
world really have been in a state of grief again, a state of mind and 
heart that many of us, of course, have experienced both personally and 
nationally before. Once again, in this case of public grief, television 
became our common touchstone, binding us through the ether, informing 
us with gripping yet familiar scenes and words.
  And once again, we learned things we wished we had known and thought 
before the great loss. We learned of the astronaut whose aunt and uncle 
had lost a son on September 11 at the World Trade Center. Once again, 
they share a personal loss with the whole Nation. We learned of the 
Israeli astronaut who was part of the mission that destroyed an Iraqi 
nuclear reactor in 1981, an act that we now know saved the world from 
the menace of Saddam Hussein with his finger on a nuclear button.

  We learned of a woman who emigrated from India to the United States, 
became an American citizen, and then an astronaut. Surely that is one 
of the most vibrant and exciting realizations of what we call the 
American dream I have ever heard.
  I am sorry I did not know all this before the terrible news of last 
Saturday. That is both a testament to the success of the space program 
and a mark of how easy it is for all of us to forget the risks others 
have taken and are taking to advance the frontiers of our knowledge. 
The fact is, we take too much for granted, and it is sad it does take 
tragedy to shock us into an awareness of the sacrifices that are 
constantly being made by others on our behalf.
  That was certainly true about the role of our firefighters and police 
and emergency medical and health personnel after September 11. It is 
true when our military men and women go into combat to protect our 
security. The loss of the Black Hawk crew in Afghanistan this past week 
is again a reminder of how much danger other Americans face on our 
behalf.
  It is true also with regard to the Columbia, when the loss of that 
shuttle has caused us once again to stop and think about the men and 
women who climb on top of rockets and head into the coldness of outer 
space to advance the leading edge of human experience from which all of 
us benefit. We owe those seven brave souls our gratitude. We owe the 
same to those who fly today aboard the International Space Station and 
to those who are preparing to fly back and forth in the months and 
years to come.
  Amidst the painful familiarity of the moment we are experiencing come 
the calls for a thorough accounting of what happened; how did it 
happen. There are some who say we should have done this and others who 
say we should not have done that. Others will say we should abandon 
space, echoing a refrain we have heard intermittently now for more than 
4 decades. Skepticism about space exploration, combined with the 
economic restraints faced by our Nation for many of the years of the 
past 4 decades, has, in fact, lowered our sights and diminished our 
momentum in space.
  We must and we will investigate what happened to Columbia. No holds 
should be barred and every step should be taken to discover exactly 
what went wrong and to set about making it right so people will never 
again look aloft to see a fiery comet signalling the destruction of a 
spacecraft with its historic crew.
  Yet we must be realists. No human advance comes without risk. In the 
history of human space flight, in fact, we have lost the crew of Apollo 
1, Soyuz 1 and 11, the Challenger, and now Columbia. This is the most 
difficult, dangerous, and daunting work I can imagine. That in part is 
why we do it.
  President Kennedy said more than 40 years ago:

       We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other 
     things, not because they are easy but because they are hard.

  There is no acceptable number of spacecraft lost in pursuit of what 
is hard and what is unknown. Obviously just one loss is too many. But 
we must recognize that the sacrifice of those who have died has not 
been in vain. The space program has yielded enormous results. It has 
also given our Nation and people throughout the world a sense of wonder 
that cannot be easily recounted in mere dollars and cents.
  Our gross spiritual product, if you will, GSP, is higher than it 
would otherwise have been thanks to the efforts of the astronauts, the 
scientists, and all who make the exploration of space a noble part of 
our civilization.
  We must emerge from this investigation of the Columbia tragedy and 
from our introspection about it resolved to do more, not less, to think 
bigger, not smaller, to aim higher, not lower. Just as we must build 
something great and beautiful where the World Trade Center towers once 
stood, a fitting tribute to the men and women of the Columbia is not 
really to fix what went wrong but to do what is right, to do what is 
characteristically American, to continue--indeed, to expand--their 
mission and to lift our sights to the heavens once again and pursue new 
missions--as Charles Krauthammer has written--``to the moon and 
beyond.''
  We should do so not because we know what knowledge and benefits that 
pursuit of those goals will achieve; we should do so because we do not 
know. Yet we can be confident, based on our experience, that the effort 
will prove more than worth our while.
  That is the wonder of exploration, to go beyond the next bend in the 
river, over the next mountain, beyond the far horizon, not because we 
know what is there, but because we do not and want to find out.
  Most great feats of exploration in human history have yielded 
benefits far in excess of what anyone could have predicted when they 
began. Surely we will find something on the Moon or Mars or elsewhere 
in the cosmos that will astonish us and transform the way we live. 
Surely we will discover things about ourselves in the process of 
mounting those great missions that will change our lives.
  Spend the money here on Earth, some will say. Our problems are too 
great here to waste money in space or on the Moon or Mars.
  First remember that not one single dollar will actually be left in 
space, on the Moon, or on the surface of the red planet. Every dollar 
invested in space is invested here on Earth, circulating throughout our 
economy, creating a multiplier effect as the jobs and discoveries 
associated with the space program lift in time our GDP, our gross 
domestic product.
  Our new missions in space should be as the International Space 
Station is: American-led but international in scope. People and 
resources of many nations can and should be pooled to ensure that the 
great space missions of the 21st century are global projects that make 
sense, because success is more likely, of course, if we tap the best 
minds of the broad community of nations, not just our own. The 
investment needed can best be realized through contributions from many 
peoples, not just the American people.
  Such a common venture also has other salutary effects. As President 
Clinton has said, We need a world with more friends and fewer 
terrorists. And what better way to expand our circle of friends than to 
invite them to join us on an inspiring voyage together into the unknown 
wonders of space. What better way to showcase our own unique values and 
technological advances than to lead a team of many nations whose 
citizens will share with us a stake in the outcome and a share of the 
pride.
  Finally, embarking on a bold new age of discovery will help revive 
the American spirit. In the midst of terrorist threats from abroad, a 
shaken sense of security here at home, a troubled economy, and shocks 
to our system such as those we faced on September 11 and after from the 
anthrax and now from the loss of the Columbia, the American people may 
be feeling uncertain about our future. These have been tough times. But 
I am confident we are at heart an optimistic people and that for us the 
best truly is yet to come.
  We have to find ways to strengthen our can-do spirit, to unleash our 
optimism and give us a stronger sense of national purpose and greater 
hope in a better future. No single enterprise can accomplish that goal. 
I do not mean to suggest that a visionary space program alone will turn 
the national tide. There

[[Page S1918]]

are other missions to consider as well that are closer to Earth--great 
missions--which together we can accomplish to cure cancer, make our 
Nation energy independent, and defeat the scourge of AIDS.
  But remember that the American dream is not a zero-sum game. We can 
do more than we realize. We can expand opportunity and vision and hope 
if we set our minds, our hearts, and our national will to the task.
  We have all been reminded in recent days of all that President 
Kennedy set in motion with his brief words to the Congress in 1961 when 
he committed America to land a man on the Moon before that decade was 
out. We should remind ourselves, too, of how far we have come in the 
hundred years since the Wright Brothers flew at Kitty Hawk. We cannot 
know how far and how fast mankind, humankind, will travel across the 
country or the universe by this century's end. That is the wonder of 
it. But if we fail to heed the call to explore, we will only succeed in 
stifling an astounding revolution that is bound to occur sooner or 
later.
  Centuries ago, William Shakespeare wrote:

       Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft 
     might win by fearing to attempt.

  We must not let our doubts make us lose the good we can win by 
venturing further into this special frontier in space of which we are 
aware.
  In words that are more American than Shakespeare's, Mark Twain 
captured that same sensibility in one of the great American novels--
maybe the greatest--``The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,'' where Huck, 
with Jim, on the raft delighted always in approaching the next bend in 
the river, not knowing what they would find around the bend, but never 
fearful, always excited, and always confident of their ability to deal 
with whatever they found. In those last sentences of that great novel, 
Huck says:

       I reckon I got to light out for the Territory ahead of the 
     rest.

  So he did, and so have we Americans before and since. We will not--
those of us who are blessed to be citizens of this great country now--
reap all that we sow, not in our lifetimes. Yet we will find 
nourishment for our national spirit in the effort itself and from the 
knowledge that we are working to make a better tomorrow for those who 
will follow us as citizens of this country and the world, whose faces 
we will not live to see, whose names we cannot know, but whose lives we 
can touch for the better by what we do today.
  We do know the names of Rick Husband, Will McCool, Michael Anderson, 
Kalpana Chawla, David Brown, Laurel Clark, and Ilan Ramon. May God have 
mercy on them, their families, and friends, and may their souls be 
embraced in eternal life. May they, like modern-day angels, experience 
forever the peace, joy, and beauty of space flight. And may we never 
turn back from the journey of discovery that inspired these heroes and 
must still inspire our Nation and the world to ever greater heights.
  Let's light out for the territory ahead of the rest, and today that 
territory is beyond the sky. For that is the stuff of the American 
dream and the heart of the human soul. It must be our choice today, for 
surely it is our destiny.
  I thank the Chair. I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a 
quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The 
Senator from Minnesota.
  Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, it was my sad privilege to attend the 
memorial service for our great astronauts in Houston yesterday. As best 
I could, I carried the love and prayers of Minnesotans to that solemn 
occasion. It was heartbreaking; yet it was awe inspiring at the same 
time. There was a lot of love in Houston yesterday that surrounded the 
families of the brave astronauts.
  I should note how blessed we are to have the President we have at 
times such as this. His words are good and true, but it is his heart 
that communicates to the hearts of Minnesotans.
  How much we all owe to the explorers, the inventors and the pioneers. 
In Minnesota, we marvel at the thought that a Charles Lindberg from 
Little Falls, a small town on the Mississippi, was the one who opened a 
new door by traveling solo across the Atlantic. For almost every one of 
us, our presence in this country is a reality because some brave souls 
conquered their fears and headed off to an unknown place with the only 
hope that it meant a better life for their families.
  The pain of this tragedy is made more acute because of the purity of 
the sacrifice of these seven extraordinary and ordinary folks. They did 
not climb into that rocket to get rich or to gain power or to become 
celebrities. They assumed the risk to their lives for science, for 
discovery, for the pushing out of the horizons of mankind.
  As we mourn, may we in this Chamber and throughout this society seek 
that purity of motive and courage to take risks on behalf of others and 
in pursuit of a better future. May we express our appreciation far more 
freely for all those who take enormous risks on our behalf. May we 
embrace a spirit of service and sacrifice for others rather than 
idealize safety and security for ourselves.
  Thousands of years ago, an ancient Hebrew writer put down these 
words, expressed as a prayer:

     Where can I go from your spirit?
     Where can I flee from your presence?
     If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
     If I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
     If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
     If I settle on the far side of the sea,
     Even there your hand will guide me,
     Your right hand will hold me fast.

  We pray for that comfort, we pray for that embrace for the families 
who are enduring this loss and that encouragement for all as we move on 
from here.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that 
the order for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The 
Senator from Florida.
  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, it is with an especially heavy 
heart that I join Senator Hutchison of Texas as a sponsor of S. Res. 45 
commemorating the fallen astronauts on the Columbia mission and to 
express the Senate's support for continuing their legacy.
  I, along with a number of other Senators and Members of the House and 
various parts of the NASA family, gathered yesterday in Houston. It is 
getting to be a gathering that is not pleasant, for we had a similar 
gathering 17 years ago--17 years ago, almost to the day--when we lost 
another space shuttle from a series of mistakes.
  Oh, there were the technical reasons about why the Space Shuttle 
Challenger exploded, the technical reasons that the cold weather had 
stiffened the rubberized gaskets, called the O-rings, in the field 
joints of the solid rocket boosters, and that stiffened O-ring allowed 
the hot gases of the SRBs to pass through those creases--those field 
joints--of the SRBs. It just happened to burn out right where the strut 
was that held that SRB to the external tank. When that strut burned at 
the bottom, it caused that SRB to rotate and puncture the big external 
tank. Seventy minutes into the flight, miles high in the Florida sky, 
it was a shock to the Nation that the symbol of America's technological 
prowess would disintegrate right in front of our eyes through a 
television camera.
  NASA realized its mistakes, and its mistakes were not only technical. 
Arrogance had set in at NASA.
  A basic fundamental of information is that it should flow both ways, 
not only from the top to the bottom but from the bottom to the top. 
Because of arrogance it had not. As the count proceeded the night 
before, there were two engineers at Morton Thiokol in Utah who were 
begging their management to stop the count because they knew the frigid 
weather was going to stiffen those O-rings.
  When we did the investigation, both in the Presidential Commission 
and in the committee I chaired at the time in the House of 
Representatives, the

[[Page S1919]]

Space Subcommittee of the full committee, the Science, Space and 
Technology Committee, what we found was that although those engineers 
were begging their management to send this information along, the 
information never got passed on to the NASA management.
  There were mistakes of communication, there were mistakes of 
attitude, and there were mistakes as a result of arrogance that caused 
the destruction of the Space Shuttle Challenger. The NASA family went 
to work and really started improving on that.
  The fact is, space flight is a risky business. When I flew 17 years 
ago, our flight returned to Earth only 10 days before Challenger 
launched. When I flew, there were 1,500 parts on the space shuttle 
called ``critical one'' parts--any one of which, if it were to fail, 
would mean the end of the mission. It was catastrophe.
  So when one goes through a very unforgiving environment and returns 
in an unforgiving environment, there is risk. Probably the riskiest 
part is all of those parts have to work on the ascent. The ascent is 
only 8\1/2\ minutes to orbit, but in order to defy the bounds of 
gravity and go Mach 25, 17,500 miles an hour, which is orbital 
velocity, and to have that energy that puts the spacecraft in a 
position to punch out of the Earth's atmosphere and insert into orbit, 
it is risky. So, too, upon reentering the Earth's atmosphere, that is 
risky.
  About an hour before landing, the orbiter is turned around and a 
thrust for 4 minutes of the two OMS engines, not the main engines but 
the OMS engines, is given to slow the orbiter a little from Mach 25. 
That slowly allows gravity to start pulling the spacecraft back to 
Earth. For about the next half hour, the spacecraft is basically in 
freefall still going about 17,000 miles an hour, traveling about a 
third of the way around the Earth, and at 400,000 feet the spacecraft 
starts encountering the Earth's atmosphere.
  At that point, the computers have to be working perfectly. The 
orbiter has been turned around and the angle of attack has to be 
exactly perfect in order that those silicon tiles on the bottom of the 
orbiter are repelling the heat which on the underside of the wings has 
risen to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit and on the leading edge of the wing 
has raised to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
  If those computers are not working perfectly to keep that angle of 
attack so that the heat is repelled, the orbiter will burn up. If the 
nose gets too low, it will burn up. If the tail gets too low, it will 
burn up. Or if there is a ripping off of the aluminum skin, these 
protective tiles that have been put there with a very high technology 
type of glue--one or two tiles, the structure is going to be invaded 
but it is not going to cause a catastrophe for the mission, but if many 
tiles are ripped off or if tiles have been damaged so that they are not 
smooth on the surface and are now rough, causing new turbulence as the 
orbiter comes crashing through the Earth's denser atmosphere, as it 
gets lower and lower, turbulence will be created and there will be an 
additional opportunity for silicon tiles to rip off. If they rip off, 
there is going to be a catastrophe.

  We still do not know what the initial cause was for the destruction 
of Columbia. We do know that one of the suspects is a piece of 
insulation came off of the huge external tank on launch. That 
insulation is like a foam, like a consistency of Styrofoam in a 
Styrofoam cooler and it could have been more hardened by ice having 
formed on the outside of that supercooled external tank which has the 
liquid hydrogen and the liquid oxygen that fuels the main engines. It 
could have been harder because of ice having formed on that Styrofoam-
type mixture, and that could have caused the initial damage or roughing 
up of some tiles, but we do not know at this point.
  Some event started to occur as the shuttle was over California for 
debris was first seen high in the skies coming off the shuttle over 
California and then over New Mexico before the shuttle started to come 
apart over Texas.
  We will find the cause and we will fix it, and we will get back to 
flight. Lord help us that we are not down for 2\1/2\ years as we were 
after Challenger and it took us 2\1/2\ years to feel safe enough to fly 
the first flight. I say, ``Lord help us'' because we have two 
astronauts and a cosmonaut in the space station right now. They are 
safe. They have a lifeboat up there of a Russian Soyuz craft that can 
bring them home, but we do not want to have to bring them home. We want 
to send a replacement crew so we can keep science and experiments going 
in that magnificent structure of a laboratory in the heavens called the 
International Space Station.
  We are going to find the problem, we are going to fix it, and 
hopefully we are going to be able to fix it soon. If it is a massive 
failure of a thermal protection system, which is the tiles, then it is 
going to take us awhile.
  In the early 1980s, we even looked at the possibility of going out on 
an EVA--that is a space walk--to fix damaged tiles. It was concluded in 
the 1980s that it was too much of a risk. First, we did not have the 
kind of glue that, in the vacuum of space, could fix those tiles, and 
then the risks of an astronaut going over the side where there was no 
communication in sight were considered so high. Remember, all of our 
space walks are outside of the open cargo bay where we have instant 
communication and sight with our space walkers. The basic problem was 
the EVA suit weighs 300 pounds and the boots are another 15 or 20 
pounds. What happens if that space walker gets out of control? He will 
damage the tiles already there on the underside.

  We are going to see if technology has advanced enough so we can 
repair those delicate silicon tiles on the underside of the space 
shuttle if they are damaged on ascent and we can see significant 
damage. We will have to look at that. We did look at it in the early 
1980s and we said we could not do it.
  We were in Houston yesterday. NASA is a family. When a family member 
is taken, that family grieves. It was well known the commander of this 
mission, Rick Husband, had a deep and abiding faith. That had been 
spoken about quite a bit throughout the service, in sidebar 
conversations, in the remarks of the President, and today in a major 
feature article in the Washington Post. That does not help relieve or 
eliminate the grief. It does help console those who are grieving.
  I saw a lot of macho, grizzled astronauts yesterday giving a lot of 
hugs. Those seven astronauts who died over Texas made the ultimate 
sacrifice in exchange for the benefits that their courageous 
exploration of the heavens will realize for all of mankind. It is with 
the greatest respect and gratitude to the families of those fallen that 
we say what we can--and we really cannot say anything that in the big 
picture is meaningful--to ensure their cause will continue.
  To a man and a woman in this Senate, there is a determination that 
cause will continue. It will continue certainly as a memorial to those 
before them, all of those names that are on that significant astronaut 
memorial at the Kennedy Space Center, astronauts who have died in the 
line of duty--not just the ones you know about--the Apollo fire on the 
pad, the Challenger 7, and now the Columbia 7.
  Not only will it continue as a memorial, but this program will 
continue because it is a reflection of the character of the American 
people. We are by nature explorers and adventurers. That is a part of 
our character. It began when Europeans left the continent and crossed 
the oceans. It is deep within our soul to be explorers and adventurers. 
When we settled this land known as New America, we had a frontier, and 
it was westward. We still have a frontier, and it is upward.
  I believe in my lifetime we will see an international crew from 
planet Earth go to the planet Mars. We may well go back to the Moon and 
establish a lunar base. We might be mining things on the surface of the 
Moon, like helium 3. A cargo bay type load of helium 3 could generate 
the electrical power for the entire United States for 1 year. Those are 
the technologies that hold promise. We already see so many of the 
technologies developed in the space program, particularly when we went 
to the Moon. We had to have materials that were light in weight, small 
in volume, and highly reliable. In developing those for space 
exploration to go to the Moon, the spinoffs have been incredible. This 
watch is a part of the spinoff. So is an artificial heart. So is a 
kidney dialysis machine. So is much of our modern-day materials and 
alloys.

[[Page S1920]]

  We will continue exploration, not only in the memory of our fallen 
comrades but for what it reflects as a character of the American people 
and the American spirit as well as the many benefits we derive from 
space exploration, not the least of which is to find out about that 
magnificent creation out there called the universe.
  That is why I rise to join with Senator Hutchison in sponsoring this 
resolution commemorating our fallen brethren and sisters.
  I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Kyl). The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the 
quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the vote on 
adoption of the pending resolution on the Columbia occur at 2:20 today, 
with 5 minutes prior to the vote equally divided between Senators 
Hutchison and Nelson for closing remarks.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the seven 
men and women of the Space Shuttle Columbia who dedicated their lives 
to the future of this Nation and our Nation's space program. In 
particular, seven men and women who knew the risk of strapping 
themselves on top of a rocket, leaving the Earth behind and exploring 
the heavens. Seven men and women who knew what they were doing but, 
nevertheless, volunteered for an extremely dangerous but critically 
important mission: Shuttle Commander Rick Husband, Pilot William 
McCool, Payload Commander Michael Anderson, Mission Specialist Kalpana 
Chawla, Mission Specialist David Brown, Mission Specialist Laurel Blair 
Salton Clark, and Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon.
  These brave seven showed the Nation, indeed they showed the entire 
world that our thirst for knowledge and exploration is not yet quenched 
and, God willing, will never be. These brave seven are shining examples 
of the courage, enthusiasm, and awe that runs through the veins of all 
of the men and women associated with our space program, as well as the 
eager children across this Nation who look to the stars and see the 
beginning, not the end, of their dreams.
  These brave seven and their colleagues throughout the space program 
inspire not only our Nation and our children, they inspire the entire 
world. Their actions, bravery, and achievement are a challenge to all 
humankind, a challenge to dream more, to achieve more, and to reach 
farther than ever thought possible.
  As we know and as the President observed yesterday, high achievement 
is inseparable from great risk. These seven proved that in a terrible 
and tragic way.
  I would also like to take a moment to honor the men and women in my 
State of Texas--the police, fire, and emergency services, as well as 
thousands of local volunteers who have worked so hard on the ground in 
the aftermath of this terrible disaster to prevent further tragedy. In 
addition, they are in the process of collecting important evidence that 
will ultimately, we trust, lead to determination of what caused this 
terrible tragedy so it will never ever happen again.
  Literally within minutes of the tragedy, ordinary Texans did 
extraordinary things. By working together, they helped to ensure the 
safety of their neighbors, and they helped speed the investigation so 
that heroic astronauts on future space missions will return home 
safely. These volunteers are still on site working together with law 
enforcement personnel. I want to express my gratitude, as I know the 
Nation does, for their efforts.
  The fact that America and the world delight in every takeoff and hold 
their collective breath at every landing is a testament to the power 
and hope embodied in our Nation's space program. The heroes who create, 
maintain, and fly these amazing machines are a testament to the fact 
that dreams are the beginning and not the end of the possible.
  I would also like to remind my colleagues that more than one nation 
mourns this tragedy. The nations of Israel and India and the rest of 
the world share in our grief as they share in our hope for the future.
  Our space program inspired a young girl in the small town of Karnal, 
India to look to the heavens and see her future. Kalpana Chawla came to 
the United States, studied hard, worked hard, and became part of the 
greatest exploration force in the history of the world. Her efforts 
have inspired thousands of schoolchildren, and her example will inspire 
countless more in the future. She, in particular, has inspired 
schoolchildren in her hometown to watch in awe as she achieved what 
they only dreamed.
  In Israel, Ilan Ramon was the hope of a nation and the inspiration 
for the next generation of scientists, fliers, and adventurers in the 
nation of Israel. And he no doubt inspired many young people in that 
country to reach beyond what now seems impossible--to dream beyond the 
unrest in that troubled area of our world and to dream about achieving 
the impossible. He is a hero, there and here, and an inspiration to all 
who dream of the stars.
  As we mourn these fallen heroes, let us also take the opportunity to 
look forward to the future when shuttle flights are as common as air 
travel and the marvels of the space program are missions the mind has 
yet to imagine.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Mexico is recognized.
  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to the astronauts 
who perished aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia last Saturday, and to 
their families. It was a terrible tragedy we all suffered with the 
death of seven astronauts this last Saturday. We have heard many moving 
and eloquent tributes to those brave souls since the Columbia was lost. 
We have learned a great deal about the strength and courage and 
resourcefulness and humanity of each of those astronauts--Rick Husband, 
William McCool, David Brown, Kalpana Chawla, Michael Anderson, Laurel 
Clark, and Ilan Ramon. We have heard from the people who knew them 
best. Clearly, I and most of us here did not know them personally.
  However, I want to take just a moment more to speak about one of 
those astronauts in particular--Laurel Salton Clark. She spent part of 
her youth in Albuquerque in my home State and she maintained roots 
there. Her father lives with his wife in Albuquerque. And Laurel's 
brother, John Salton, is an engineer at Sandia National Laboratories. 
Laurel attended Hodgin Elementary School and Monroe Middle School, and 
frequently returned to Albuquerque for visits with family. She was a 
stellar student throughout her life. Her only B, according to her 
father, was one she received in high school in the typing class. She 
was a medical doctor. She was a flight surgeon in the Navy. And she 
made the astronaut corps when she was 5 months pregnant.
  She stood for what is best about our country. She was brave; she was 
strong; she was full of life. We are all diminished by her loss. We are 
also, of course, all diminished by the loss of each of the other brave 
astronauts who perished in that terrible tragedy on Saturday.
  I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Hagel). The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. KYL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. KYL. Mr. President, at the height of the Renaissance, Leonardo da 
Vinci said: ``When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk 
the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and 
there you will always long to return.''
  From that day to this, men and women have toiled and sacrificed, even 
given their lives to the achievement of manned flight. Poems have been 
penned, speeches have been delivered, and history has been written 
honoring those men and women who have lived and some, unfortunately, 
who have died, to achieve our dreams--the dreams of all mankind.
  To honor the memory of these gallant seven, we must devote the 
resources, and the far-reaching inquiry,

[[Page S1921]]

needed to find out what happened on February 1, 2003, and achieve the 
remedy so that this tragic accident will never be repeated.
  As a nation we mourn the loss of the crew of Columbia, but as members 
of the family of man, we should celebrate their courage, their 
dedication, and their desire to better us all.
  To the families of these heroes, here and abroad, we pledge to 
preserve and nurture the enterprise of space exploration. Our quest 
will continue. They will guide us on our way.
  I would like to close with an observation that speaks to the spirit 
of exploring the unknown. It is from another member of the NASA family, 
astronaut Michael Collins. He said: ``It is human nature to stretch, to 
go, to see, to understand. Exploration is not a choice, really: it is 
an imperative.''
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I and all of my colleagues, and I think, 
all Americans, have been in a period of mourning as a result of the 
situation that occurred about 9:15 or 9:16 this past Saturday, as many 
of us watched in horror, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrate over 
the continental United States.
  All of us in the Senate have had the privilege over the years of 
meeting many of our astronauts, and certainly even serving with some of 
them right here in the Senate. We have known of the phenomenal 
dedication and commitment of these men and women who do this very 
important work. It is a life of pursuing a challenge, and the reward 
was the service itself. It was not financial, it was not a large 
trophy. It was the challenge of the service and what they could provide 
for our country and for all mankind. I think yesterday, as many 
witnessed the memorial service at the Johnson Space Center in Houston--
I was unable to attend--we were reminded once again of the phenomenal 
caliber and capability of these seven people.
  Barbara Morgan from my State has pursued being an astronaut for many 
years. She was, up until now--and may still be--scheduled to fly into 
space within the year. She was part of the original teacher's program--
one of those on standby and ready to go up when the Challenger went up 
and was lost. I have seen the excitement of being an astronaut and of 
achieving as an astronaut--for herself, yes, but for the American 
people--through the eyes and enthusiasm of Ms. Morgan.
  So I am reminded through her, and what I know of her, of the caliber 
and talent of these people who are selected to become our astronauts.
  We will now set about trying to find out what went wrong, as we 
should, because one wonderful thing about our space program from the 
very beginning, is we always erred on the side of human safety. We were 
always extremely cautious and we built phenomenal systems of redundancy 
to assure that the primary role was to guarantee--or at least provide--
the optimum safety that we were technologically capable of doing; and 
something clearly has gone wrong. It is now our job and the job of NASA 
to be able to find out and to rectify it for future space travel.
  I just said future space travel. I am an enthusiast of the space 
program and always have been. In the 20-plus years I have served in 
Congress, I have always supported NASA and all of its efforts. It is 
within this country's capability, and it is within the full character 
of our country that we do as we have done in the space program, and 
that is push and explore the unknown. We were founded, we became a 
country, we discovered our landmass. Some people thought they might 
fall over the edge of the earth because some who were on that maiden 
voyage with Columbus thought the earth was flat and surely they would 
sail off into the unknown and go over the edge, never to be heard from 
again. It was that kind of daring that made us what we are.
  Just a few weeks ago, my wife and I had the privilege of traveling to 
Monticello for the commencement program of the bicentennial of Lewis 
and Clark. Of course, I am from Idaho. In those days, they didn't know 
there was an Idaho; they just knew there was a wilderness out there 
that nobody had penetrated before. It was the wisdom of Thomas 
Jefferson on that day in 1803 to have written a letter to Congress 
asking for $2,500 to put a team together to explore the unknown. Did 
they ever think they would return? They didn't know it. There was no 
guarantee. The risks were high. Of course, all the rest is history.

  What we witnessed last Saturday morning was a phenomenal reminder of 
the great spirit of adventure and the challenge that Americans have met 
for literally centuries. We are also reminded it is not just going down 
to the airport and getting on a shuttle. We have become relatively 
complacent that shuttles flew and there was an inherent amount of 
safety in them simply because they were flying so often--only to find 
out that simply was not the case. I hope--and I am confident of it--we 
will find remedies to the obvious problem that took the lives of seven 
wonderful human beings last Saturday and, in finding that, we will make 
another major step forward in allowing humans to travel into outer 
space and explore, or to allow their genius to travel into outer space 
and explore. For the adventure of it? Sure, but also for the 
applications of adventure and the tools of exploration that we then 
apply in our own lives--whether it is, in fact, velcro, or the 
miniaturization of the electronic equipment that is a direct result of 
space travel that we use in all of our lives today to allow us to live 
more efficiently and be more productive.
  That is part of the total investment that is the space program--the 
ability of this great country to push the outer limits and allow the 
genius of our people the resources to do just that. So we stand in awe 
of those who travel in outer space. But Saturday and yesterday were 
reminders that they are human, and that it is a very dangerous and 
risky business we pursue in the business of adventure, the business of 
pushing the unknown, and the great reward for accomplishing and 
succeeding in doing so.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I join my Senate colleagues and our Nation 
in honoring the seven astronauts who lost their lives as Space Shuttle 
Columbia returned home last Saturday. These brave individuals flew into 
space in the name of all humanity, and together we mourn their loss.
  Those who perished with Columbia represented not only the best of our 
Nation, but the best of humankind. On board was a crew of seven: COL 
Rick Husband; LTC Michael Anderson; CDR Laurel Clark; CAPT David Brown; 
CDR William McCool; Dr. Kalpana Chawla; and Ilan Ramon, a colonel in 
the Israeli Air Force. They left behind 12 children, their spouses, 
along with numerous family members and friends. The people of the State 
of Michigan and our Nation share the grief and the pride of those who 
lost a loved one aboard the shuttle.
  When Columbia blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape 
Canaveral a few weeks ago, the astronauts aboard left earth in relative 
anonymity. In many ways this is a result of NASA's success: there have 
now been 144 manned space missions. Consequently, many have come to 
view spaceflight as routine.
  However, the journey of exploration which they shared posed great 
risk. But the astronauts aboard Columbia, like those aboard Challenger 
and in Apollo I before them, understood those risks associated with 
their mission. Last Saturday, our Nation and the world once again 
received the ultimate and painful reminders that these are still our 
first steps into space. Nevertheless, space exploration will continue, 
for exploring our world and the heavens above has been a dream of 
humanity since long before the namesake of the Columbia set out across 
the Atlantic Ocean seeking a new route to India.
  I am confident that in the coming months we will leave no stone 
unturned in the quest to find the causes of this catastrophe. I am sure 
the necessary changes will be made to safely transport the heroes of 
today and those of tomorrow.
  A generation ago, the challenge of manned spaceflight inspired 
thousands

[[Page S1922]]

of students to pursue careers in math, science and engineering. We are 
still benefitting from the innovations that this generation is 
responsible for. By rededicating ourselves to spaceflight and the 
wonders of science, we can produce another generation that will tackle 
new challenges and inspire us with their discoveries.
  I believe the comment of my friend and our former colleague John 
Glenn summarizes it best. Following the tragedy of the Space Shuttle 
Challenger, he remarked, ``they indeed carried our hopes and our dreams 
with them. Let us carry their memory with us.'' The men and women of 
the Space Shuttle Columbia carried with them the dreams of all of us 
and for that we thank them and hold them in our hearts.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, this past Saturday, the world once 
again became painfully aware of the risks inherent in manned space 
travel. The Columbia tragedy has deeply wounded not only members of the 
NASA community, but also every American and indeed every person around 
the world who has ever looked up into the night sky and gazed in 
wonderment.
  Of course, space exploration has always been a dangerous venture, and 
the seven astronauts who gave their lives on Saturday knew this full 
well and accepted their mission witout reservation. Their long 
dedication to public service and their willingness to sacrifice, even 
at the risk of their own lives, in pursuit of knowledge and the 
betterment of mankind should be celebrated. We honor these American 
heroes.
  At the same time, all of our thoughts and prayers are with the 
families of the crew during this terrible and difficult time. May they 
know that every American is forever indebted to their loved ones for 
their bravery and devotion to the American space program.
  As we sort out the causes of this tragedy over the next several 
months and years, however, we must not fear the exploration of outer 
space. We must strive to return to space as soon as possible, maybe 
with different means, maybe unmanned, until we can be most assured of 
improved safety, for the benefits of the space program are innumerable 
and irrefutable.
  Because of research performed in outer space, people all over the 
world now benefit from, among other things, improved water and air 
purification systems, kidney dialysis machines, more efficient solar 
collectors, artificial hearts and limbs, improved emergency rescue 
equipment, and fire retardant materials, In fact, more than 100 
documented NASA technologies from the space shuttle are now 
incorporated into the tools we use, the foods we eat, and the 
biotechnology and medicines used to improved our health.
  In addition to these immense practical benefits, we must not forget 
the power of space flight to inspire and motivate that those who will 
eventually lead us in the future. In 1957, a group of six boys in my 
home State of West Virginia observed Sputnik flying high overhead and 
realized that rocketry was their calling in life. In the 45 years 
since, the group, now known as the Rocket Boys, has mad space 
exploration a reality for countless children and adults in West 
Virginia. Early space flight inspired them, and it inspired space 
education in West Virginia.
  As a result of this inspiration, West Virginia is now the proud home 
of the NASA Independent Identification and Validation Center in 
Fairmont where 150 NASA employees and contractors play a critical role 
in space shuttle mission control software. Our State is also the proud 
home of the Challenger Learning Center at Wheeling Jesuit University 
which provides schoolchildren and teachers the chance to experience 
space simulation and many opportunities for math, science, and 
technology education.
  It is easy to support the space program during times of great success 
and spectacular achievement. But it is perhaps during times of tragedy 
and confusion that the program needs our support the most. Just 
yesterday, President Bush expressed his support for the continuation of 
the space shuttle program, declaring that the ``American journey into 
space will go on.''
  NASA's remaining astronaut corps, as well as their flight directors 
and engineers, embody the very same bravery and dedication as their 
fallen colleagues. It is now up to all of us to echo support for our 
space program so that this bravery is not wasted, so that the immense 
benefits of the space program, as well as future astronauts, can be 
safely brought back to Earth.
 Mr. GRAHAM of South Carolina. Mr. President, all Americans 
were saddened by the terrible tragedy last weekend involving the Space 
Shuttle Columbia. The world has lost seven incredibly talented people 
who were striving to make this a better planet for us all. Our hearts 
go out to the families of the astronauts. I hope God will provide them 
comfort and healing during this difficult time.
  For decades, Americans have been proud of our space program and the 
brave men and women who have led our explorations in space travel. They 
have been pioneers seeking a better understanding of our own planet and 
what lies in the deep, dark expanse of space.
  In the coming days and weeks our Nation will mourn for the astronauts 
of the Space Shuttle Columbia as well as the friends and families they 
left behind. We will also mourn for the thousands of dedicated workers 
at NASA who are suffering from this painful loss. We will take our time 
to carefully study and examine what went wrong and then we'll make the 
necessary corrections and adjustments.
  At the appropriate time, we will once again move forward into new 
frontiers and new missions for space exploration. It is who we are. It 
is what we do. It is why we are Americans.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, together, as a nation, we mourn the loss 
of the seven extraordinary men and women of the Columbia shuttle who 
gave their lives so unselfishly and courageously for our country. They 
knew the dangers they faced, but they believed in their mission, and 
they represent the very best of America.
  We know the great loss their families and the whole Nation have 
suffered, and they are very much in our thoughts and prayers. They were 
daring and brave explorers. Their extraordinary spirit and courage 
enabled them to reach for the stars and explore the universe and 
discover its truths. In serving America so well, they also served all 
humanity.
  The best way for all of us to honor the memory and sacrifice of these 
brave young men and women is to carry on the work they were part of. 
The tragedy reminds us again that those who venture into space place 
their own lives at risk as they try to benefit us all. We can vindicate 
their faith by keeping faith with them. Those whom we have just lost 
would be the first to say to us, ``persevere, go forward,'' because 
they were pioneers in the truest sense and in the greatest of American 
tradition. They were willing to take risks, even to risk their lives in 
order to benefit us all.
  I know how deeply President Kennedy believed in the space program. He 
called it, ``the vast ocean of space,'' and he set our Nation firmly on 
a course to explore it, understand it, and use it in ways that help and 
protect us all. When America first embarked more than 40 years ago on 
the great voyage into space, President Kennedy said, ``It will not be 
one man going to the Moon: it will be an entire Nation.''
  He knew that when we reach for the stars, sometimes we fall short. 
But as he knew so well, the mission must go on. He would have been very 
proud of these seven astronauts, as all of us are today. Let us honor 
these seven inspiring heroes by continuing the great enduring mission 
they were part of, for the benefit of our country, our planet, and all 
peoples everywhere.
  As my brother said on November 21, 1963, the day before he left us, 
``This Nation has tossed its cap over the wall of space, and we shall 
have no choice but to follow it.'' In the quintessential spirit of 
America, the crew of the Columbia have tossed their caps over that 
wall, too, and we shall never forget them.
  I extend my deepest and heartfelt sympathy to the families who have 
so suddenly lost their loved ones. I ask unanimous consent to have 
printed in the Record an excerpt from President Kennedy's address to 
Congress on space in 1961, and the poem ``High Flight'' by John 
Gillespie Magee, Jr., which President Reagan read after the loss of the 
Challenger in 1986.

[[Page S1923]]

  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

 Excerpt From Address of President John F. Kennedy to a Special Joint 
                   Session of Congress (May 25, 1961)

       . . . Now it is time to take longer strides--time for a 
     great new American enterprise--time for this nation to take a 
     clearly leading role in space achievement, which in many ways 
     may hold the key to our future on earth.
       I believe we possess all the resources and talents 
     necessary. But the facts of the matter are that we have never 
     made the national decisions or marshalled the national 
     resources required for such leadership. We have never 
     specified long-range goals on an urgent time schedule, or 
     managed our resources and our time so as to insure their 
     fulfillment.
       Recognizing the head start obtained by the Soviets with 
     their large rocket engines, which gives them many months of 
     lead-time, and recognizing the likelihood that they will 
     exploit this lead for some time to come in still more 
     impressive success, we nevertheless are required to make new 
     efforts on our own. For while we cannot guarantee that we 
     shall one day be first, we can guarantee that any failure to 
     make this effort will make us last. We take an additional 
     risk by making it in full view of the world, but as shown by 
     the feat of astronaut Shepard, this very risk enhances our 
     stature when we are successful. But this is not merely a 
     race. Space is open to us now; and our eagerness to share its 
     meaning is not governed by the efforts of others. We go into 
     space because whatever mankind must undertake, free men must 
     fully share.
       I therefore ask the Congress, above and beyond the 
     increases I have earlier requested for space activities, to 
     provide the funds which are needed to meet the following 
     national goals:
       First, I believe that this nation should commit itself to 
     achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a 
     man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth. . . . 
     But in a very real sense, it will not be one man going to the 
     moon--if we make this judgment affirmatively, it will be an 
     entire nation. For all of us must work to put him there . . .
                                  ____


                              High Flight

                     (By John Gillespie Magee, Jr.)

       (Magee was a 19-year-old American volunteer with the Royal 
     Canadian Air Force, who was killed in training December 11, 
     1941.)

     Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
     And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
     Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
     Of sun-split clouds--and done a hundred things
     You have not dreamed of--wheeled and soared and swung
     High in the sunlight silence. Hov'ring there,
     I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
     My eager craft through footless halls of air
     Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
     I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace,
     Where never lark, or even eagle, flew;
     And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
     The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
     Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President. I rise today with a heavy heart to honor 
seven fallen astronauts, the adventurers aboard Columbia. On Saturday, 
February 1, after 16 days in space, their hero's homecoming abruptly 
turned into a national tragedy. As the space shuttle fell apart upon 
re-entry into Earth's atmosphere in the skies above Texas, the Nation 
once again fell into mourning.
  Each of the seven astronauts leaves behind family and friends who now 
bear the burden of immense sorrow and grief. May they find peace in the 
days and years ahead. The loss of a spouse, father, mother, sibling, or 
child brings immeasurable anguish, especially under such tragic, public 
circumstances.
  May they find comfort in the knowledge that their loved ones were 
pursuing their lifelong dreams. The dreams of individuals whose 
aspirations will benefit all of humanity. They leave behind for their 
children and grandchildren a legacy that will continue to inspire 
generations to come. The U.S. space program will continue. Their 
mission will not be forgotten.
  In classrooms across America, Israel, India, and the world over, 
young impressionable minds can learn from these seven ambitious 
individuals the values inherent to the human spirit: courage, 
adventure, discipline, discovery, commitment, exploration, and risk-
taking.
  Each of the astronauts ought to be remembered in history for their 
willingness to risk it all in pursuit of scientific discovery. The 
Columbia crew carried out 90 experiments to help solve problems here on 
Earth, including science experiments developed by students from 9 
States and 8 countries. Thanks to their selfless good work--ranging 
from tests developed to help fight cancer, improve crop yields, build 
earthquake-resistant buildings, and understand the effects of dust 
storms on weather--human civilization stands to gain from their labors 
above.
  Like the explorers and frontiersman who traversed the unknown before 
them, these seven men and women responded to a similar calling. Their 
predecessors navigated uncharted territory by way of oceans and open 
prairie: Ferdinand Magellan. James Cook, Lewis and Clark. It is a 
timeless human quest to discover the undiscovered and to take risks.
  These magnificent seven set out on heavenly horizons to explore, 
investigate, research, and navigate what for most of us Earth-bound 
folks will remain a mystery. We are indebted to their courage, 
commitment and contributions.
  Mr. President, I wanted like to single out one member of the crew. 
One of seven U.S. astronauts with Iowa ties, Laurel Clark was born in 
Ames. She leaves behind some family members in Iowa, including her 96-
year-old grandmother Mary Haviland and Doug and Betty Haviland, her 
aunt and uncle. For the second time in 16 months, Reverend and Mrs. 
Haviland are coming to grips with devastating grief. They also lost 
their son in the World Trade Center attacks on 9/11. Friends and family 
members recall Clark as a high-achiever committed to science and the 
space program. Last year, she visited an elementary school in Carroll, 
IA to educate a second-grade class about the space shuttle's mission. A 
wife and mother of an 8-year-old son, the 41-year-old Navy doctor was 
on her first space flight. In her e-mails from Columbia, Clark wrote 
about how ``glorious'' it was to see Earth from her position in space. 
May her loved ones find peace as she watches over them now from the 
heavens above. The necessary investigations are underway to discover 
what went so terribly wrong on that bright Saturday morning in 
February, just minutes before the crew's homecoming. May we fully 
ascertain what went wrong to bring closure to the loved ones left 
behind and avert another tragedy. Congress will need to continue strong 
oversight and consider NASA's budgeting needs to ensure an effective, 
efficient, and safe space program.

  It is sadly ironic to consider that for many Americans, these highly-
trained and dedicated astronauts would have remained to them anonymous 
if not for the tragedy that took their lives. Continuing and improving 
the space program would be the best way to honor the legacy of the 
fallen Columbia crew. Consider the discoveries waiting to be made in 
medicine, biology, physics, meteorology, and agro-sciences. Don't 
discount the advances already made in satellite communications and 
strategic military defense systems thanks to space exploration.
  Four decades ago, the first American astronauts launched us into 
space. There is no turning back on destiny now.
  Notwithstanding the loss of human life, I believe the Columbia crew, 
including Iowa-born Laurel Clark, would urge us to resume America's 
space odyssey and get back to the future.
  Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the seven heroes 
lost in the tragic explosion of the space shuttle Columbia on February 
1, 2003.
  The seven members of the Columbia crew will be deeply missed by their 
families, NASA, our entire country, and others following this historic 
mission.
  Though I could recite an astonishing list of accomplishments for each 
of the seven astronauts, their most important contribution was the 
example of bravery, courage, and excellence they set for men, women, 
and children across the land.
  I am proud to say that one of these heroes, Air Force LTC Michael 
Anderson was a beloved son of the Spokane community and a cherished 
hero for men, women, and children in Washington. But Michael Anderson 
was a hero long before the accepted the challenge of the Columbia 
mission.
  Lieutenant Colonel Anderson knew he wanted to be an astronaut at the 
early age of 3. This dream followed him to Washington, when he and his 
family

[[Page S1924]]

moved to the Spokane area at age 11 after his father was assigned to 
the nearby Fairchild Air Force Base.
  Throughout his early education in Spokane area public schools, 
Anderson remained focused on his goal of being an astronaut, becoming 
an exceptional science student, and overcoming all of the challenges 
facing a young African-American man in this country.
  He graduated from Cheney High School in Cheney, WA, in 1977 and 
continued his science education with a bachelor of science degree in 
physics/astronomy from the University of Washington in 1981, when he 
was also commissioned as a second lieutenant of the Air Force. Anderson 
later completed a master of science degree in physics from Creighton 
University in 1990.
  After becoming an astronaut in 1994, Michael Anderson took to heart 
his responsibility as a role model for children around the country and 
back home. After his 1998 flight on the space shuttle Endeavor to the 
Mir Space Station, Anderson visited his alma mater, Cheney High School.
  With a crowd of enthralled students listening on, Anderson told the 
students that they could do what he had done if they set goals and 
worked hard.
  Anderson also left the students a reminder of his achievement, 
returning a school pennant that he had taken to space with him on the 
mission. On display in the school's main entrance, this pennant, along 
with a mission patch and small flag that also went into space, 
continues to serve as an inspiration to the school's students.
  LTC Anderson is an amazing story of courage, achievement against many 
odds, and sacrifice for this country. He provided a demonstration of 
excellence and offered a triumphant example of accomplishment for 
Americans of all color, race, and background. He will be missed, but he 
will never be forgotten.
  The Washington family has also lost another friend in Navy CDR Willie 
McCool, who made Anacortes, WA, his home during two terms of service at 
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.
  Commander McCool was not only well regarded during his time at 
Whidbey, but he continued his tie to the community after he left. 
Community members remember him for his kindness and professionalism and 
his love of children; he often returned to Fidalgo Elementary School to 
discuss his work as an astronaut.
  We lost a good friend in Commander McCool and also lost a piece of 
home; he brought a bit of Anacortes with him on Columbia in the form of 
a Douglas fir cone from the surrounding forest.
  Though the loss of this crew is a sober reminder of the risks 
involved with human space flight, I join the President and many of my 
fellow Members of Congress in calling for the continued support of 
NASA's space shuttle program.
  Critically, this support, together with a continued investigation of 
this tragedy, must be focused on ensuring the safety of future space 
shuttle flights.
  The space shuttle program remains a leading force in scientific 
research and in stimualting public interest in space exploration.
  This leadership is exemplified by the numerous experiments conducted 
by the Columbia crew before the tragic re-entry, and the interest of 
scientists, schoolchildren, and people worldwide.
  The space shuttle is also critical for the assembly and operation of 
the International Space Station.
  Importantly, the benefits of the experiments conducted on the space 
shuttle and the International Space Station extend beyond the 
scientific community to directly enhance the lives of individuals 
across the globe, whether in finding cures to diseases or helping us 
understand the origin of the universe.
  While the tremendous technical and scientific accomplishments of NASA 
demonstrate vividly that humans can achieve previously inconceivable 
feats, the exploration of space also humbles us by exhibiting the 
miracle of this tiny ``blue marble'' in the cosmos and the wonder and 
preciousness of human life.
  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, on January 16 the crew of STS-107 
launched from Cape Canaveral, FL through the skies to space. They were 
sent on a mission to further space exploration and had the work of more 
than 70 international scientists onboard. The Columbia crew of seven 
had a research mission in the space, physical, and life sciences. After 
a nearly flawless mission, the world witnessed their tragic death as 
the Columbia Space shuttle shattered above the Earth upon its return on 
February 1.
  As is well known now, this crew, doing the work of international 
scientists, were quite international themselves. The diverse group of 
human researchers spanned the globe, hailing home to the United States, 
India, and Israel. Each country celebrated in their own way their 
national heroes upon the launch of Columbia. But now, these countries 
join together in sharing our sorrows with each other in the aftermath 
of such a heartbreaking tragedy.
  These people each brought something special to the mission of NASA. 
CDR Rick Husband first dreamed of being an astronaut at the age of 4 
and worked throughout his life to become an astronaut, fulfilling his 
dream in 1994 when he was selected by NASA. Pilot Willie McCool was the 
most steady and dependable of men; his friends considered themselves 
blessed to know him. Payload CDR Michael Anderson always wanted to fly 
and along the way of achieving his goals, he became a role model for 
African-American children across the United States. David Brown, 
mission specialist, probably most accurately said what we believe now, 
that, ``This program will go on,'' no matter what happens. Kalpana 
Chawla traveled an arduous path to becoming an astronaut and represents 
so well the diversity aboard the Columbia. Born in India, she moved to 
the United States to fulfill her dream of reaching the stars. She has 
now done that and more. Laurel Clark was a physician and a flight 
surgeon who loved her work and her family. From aboard the shuttle 
Laurel said, ``Life continues in a lot of places and life is a magical 
thing.'' She could not have captured the feelings of so many any more 
accurately. Ilan Ramon, who brought so much attention and pride to this 
mission, was the first Israeli astronaut. The son of a Holocaust 
survivor, he brought with him aboard the shuttle a picture that a 
Jewish boy had drawn before he died in the Holocaust.
  The diversity of this crew so accurately represents the diversity in 
the missions of NASA. Even through the cold war era and into today 
aboard the International Space Station, NASA has been a leader in 
international relations. Taking giant steps for mankind, NASA often 
times set the example for the rest of the world to follow. It is in 
that spirit that we sent the Columbia crew to do their work, and it is 
in that spirit that we will continue their work.
  NASA has, from its inception, been charged with making the impossible 
possible. From the early days of the Mercury Program, through the 
advancements in Gemini and the triumphant successes of Apollo, NASA has 
given us a sense of national pride. Yet we mustn't let our pride fool 
us into thinking that NASA's work is commonplace. Each time a shuttle 
launches and a mission is accomplished, it is a miraculous, humbling 
event.

  The mission of these seven astronauts did not end when the Columbia 
went down. No. Their mission will go on. Space exploration is in our 
blood, a part of our national heritage. Manned space flight will 
continue, and these heroes would want it to. We will move on with space 
exploration and we will do so with pride, ensuring that these seven 
lives were not lost in vain.
  America is strong. She is steadfast. And she is brave. God has called 
these mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters, but we will not forget 
them. We will never forget the inspiration they gave to so many hopeful 
citizens on Earth. We must persevere and we must move on, for the honor 
of these seven fallen heroes.
  As chairman of the Science, Technology, and Space Subcommittee here 
in the Senate, I plan to take an active role in ensuring that the 
dreams of these seven astronauts are not forgotten. As NASA determines 
what went so terribly wrong, we will be diligent in doing everything we 
can in the Congress to give NASA the support it needs to make sure we 
press forward with scientific advances, and that nothing like this 
happens again.
  Our next step will be to determine what the future of space 
exploration holds for Americans--what our goal is

[[Page S1925]]

and how we get there. The tragedy that NASA is enduring will not 
dissuade or discourage America from venturing into space. Our 
commitment to space exploration is firm.
  For the families of the seven, I send my prayers. As Psalm 19 states, 
``The heavens declare the glory of God . . .''. The heavens are now 
declaring the glory of these seven heroes. There are seven more stars 
in the heavens tonight, and with each setting of the sun, the spirits 
of our seven heroes will shine brighter. Every time we look up into the 
starry night, we can remember the lives of the seven cherished heroes 
aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia and be proud, proud of their 
dedication, their diversity, and their dream.
  I express my heartfelt sorrow and condolences to the families and 
friends of these seven astronauts. I will never forget the sacrifices 
they made in the name of exploration. May God bless them and their 
families.
  Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the memory of Dr. 
Laurel Blair Salton Clark, one of the seven courageous astronauts 
tragically killed when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over 
Texas on Saturday, February 1.
  Dr. Clark was born in 1961 in Ames, IA. She graduated in 1979 from 
Racine's William Horlick High School in Wisconsin. She received a 
bachelor's degree in zoology in 1983 and a doctorate in medicine in 
1987 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Clark joined the 
Navy, in part to finance her college education.
  A flight surgeon trained as a Navy undersea medical officer, Dr. 
Clark performed medical evacuations from submarines during assignment 
in Holy Loch, Scotland. She was assigned as a flight surgeon for a 
Marine Corps AV-8B Night Attack Harrier Squadron in Yuma, AZ, and for 
the Naval Flight Officer Advanced Training Squadron in Pensacola, FL. 
In April of 1996, Dr. Clark was selected by NASA, and she qualified for 
flight assignment as a mission specialist after completing 2 years of 
training and evaluation.
  There were over 80 experiments conducted aboard Columbia, most 
dedicated to research investigating human physiology, fire suppression, 
drug delivery techniques, and space communication technology. The 
research conducted during the 16-day mission was sponsored by NASA and 
the European, Canadian, and German Space Agencies. Schools and 
universities around the world were involved in many of the experiments 
the crew performed in Spacehab, a facility which offers scientists 
access to microgravity aboard space shuttles.
  Many have noted and applauded the diversity of the Columbia's crew, 
and Dr. Clark certainly hoped that the scientific experiments the crew 
conducted would benefit all mankind. In an e-mail sent to her family 
and friends on Friday, January 31, she spoke of feeling blessed to be 
representing the United States and ``carrying out the research of 
scientists around the world.''
  Our thoughts and prayers are with Dr. Clark's 8-year-old son Ian and 
her husband Jonathan Clark. The loss of the space shuttle's crew is 
devastating, and my hope is that we can identify the cause of the 
Columbia's breakup and prevent such tragedies in the future.
  Dr. Laurel Clark told her loved ones of the Columbia mission, 
``magically, the very first day we flew over Lake Michigan and I saw 
Wind Point clearly.'' Speaking on behalf of Wisconsin, we are honored 
that she considered Racine her hometown. Today, we celebrate the brave 
contributions Dr. Laurel Blair Salton Clark made during her life and 
career, and we honor her memory throughout the Nation.
  I yield the floor.
  Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr President, I rise to speak today on the Columbia 
tragedy. On Saturday, February 1, our Nation suffered a tragic loss. 
The seven astronauts of the Space Shuttle Columbia gave their lives in 
service of their country and all mankind. These brave men and women 
displayed a dedication to duty and scientific exploration that is an 
inspiration to all of us. India and Israel share in our shock and 
grief. Israel lost a national hero, their nation's first astronaut, 
Colonel Ilan Ramon. My thoughts and prayers are with all the families. 
They should know that the United States Senate shares their sorrow and 
will remember and honor the lives of their loved ones.
  The best way to honor these seven brave men and women is to move 
forward with the space program. But first, there needs to be a 
thorough, rigorous and candid investigation of what went wrong. The 
issues confronting us are immediate and severe. Three American 
astronauts remain in space. The two investigative committees must 
gather the evidence, conduct their analysis and report to the Congress 
and to the American people with candor so the shuttle program can move 
forward in the safest way possible.
  In my years as chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee, and now as 
its ranking member, shuttle safety has been my top priority. But, 
shuttle safety and astronaut safety have also been the priority of the 
committee--on a bipartisan basis. When I first joined the committee, 
Senator Jake Garn of Utah--himself a former astronaut--was my mentor. 
We worked together using the findings of the Challenger and Augustine 
Commissions as blueprints for NASA's future. The Augustine report gave 
us guiding principles for a balanced space program. The Challenger 
report told us what we needed to do on safety. Now, with my friend and 
colleague, Senator Kit Bond, I share the same bipartisan spirit. We 
have common goals and common values. He believes, as I do, that safety 
must come first. Over the last few years, no matter which of us was 
chair and which was ranking, safety was the number one priority.
  There has never been any question that we would fully fund the 
shuttle program and shuttle safety initiatives. Year after year, 
Senator Bond and I worked together to make sure everything that NASA 
asked for was put in the Federal checkbook. But, we went even farther 
than that. For the last two years, while I was chair, I wrote into the 
report language that NASA must make the safety of the shuttle program 
and the safety of our astronauts its highest priority. Last year, I 
said in the committee's report that NASA's budget must reflect its 
long-term challenges. I asked for a detailed assessment of the agency's 
needs and an accounting of what funding was needed.
  The immediate need facing NASA is the Columbia investigation. This 
report addresses an immediate problem for which there are immediate and 
severe consequences. Then the long range issues must be addressed. What 
does NASA do about its aging infrastructure and aging workforce? How 
are we going to have a balanced 21st century space program that 
includes human flight, space science and aeronautics?
  To conclude, I salute the men and women of Texas and Louisiana. The 
local law enforcement, national guard, regular men and women who live 
in these small towns--everyone is pitching in to find fragments of the 
Columbia, to guard them, to make sure every piece gets to the NASA 
investigators. People are opening their homes to volunteers, cooking 
and delivering meals. Thank you for everything you are doing. You 
represent the best of the American spirit. Like we have seen after 
other tragedies--the rescue workers and volunteers at ground zero--in 
the face of tragedy, America stands united.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I take this time to express my grief, as 
well as the grief of all Mississippians, over the loss of the crew of 
the Space Shuttle Columbia. Mississippians feel a strong bond to both 
the space program and the crew of the Columbia. One reason for this 
bond is NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center. The Stennis Space Center, 
which is located in Hancock County, MS, tests every space shuttle's 
main engine before it is installed for a launch. Also, the Stennis 
Space Center's remote sensing experts are currently assisting NASA in 
locating debris from the Columbia.
  Another reason Mississippians feel closely connected to the Columbia 
tragedy is that Robert and Barbara Anderson, the parents of LTC Michael 
Anderson, were both born in Mississippi. While Mr. and Mrs. Anderson 
now live in Spokane, WA, they still have family members who reside in 
Madison County, MS. While these ties to the space program and the crew 
of the Columbia provide Mississippians with a source of great honor and 
pride, now that tragedy has struck, these ties make the loss of the 
seven Columbia astronauts that much more personal.

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  The loss of the Columbia crew was truly a national tragedy. While the 
United States has been blessed with many outstanding natural resources, 
no one will ever convince me that our most valuable resource is 
anything other than the outstanding individuals this country produces. 
Our NASA astronauts are outstanding individuals who represent the best 
of the best.
  While I am sure that many here are familiar with the type of 
outstanding personal achievement that is required to become an 
astronaut, I would like to take a moment to give a brief synopsis of 
the accomplishments of the seven crew members of the Columbia shuttle.
  COL Rick Husband, commander. Rick Husband, 45, was a test pilot in 
the U.S. Air Force. He received a bachelor of science degree in 
mechanical engineering from Texas Tech University in 1980 and a master 
of science degree in mechanical engineering from California State 
University-Fresno in 1990. Husband had already completed a space 
mission as the pilot of STS-96 in 1999, on which the first docking with 
the International Space Station was performed. Rick Husband leaves a 
wife and two children behind.
  CDR William C. McCool, pilot. William C. McCool, 41, served as a 
commander in the U.S. Navy and was also a former test pilot. In 1983, 
McCool received a bachelor of science degree in applied science from 
the U.S. Naval Academy, where he graduated second in his class. He 
later received a master of science degree in computer science from the 
University of Maryland in 1985 and a master of science degree in 
aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in 
1992. This was William McCool's first space flight. He leaves behind a 
wife and three children.
  LTC Michael P. Anderson, payload commander. Michael Anderson, 43, was 
a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force, where he served as an 
instructor pilot and tactical officer. Anderson received a bachelor of 
science degree in physics/astronomy from University of Washington in 
1981 and a master of science degree in physics from Creighton 
University in 1990. Selected by NASA in December of 1994, Anderson flew 
on STS-89 in 1998 and has logged over 211 hours in space. Anderson 
leaves behind a wife and two daughters.
  CAPT David M. Brown, mission specialist 1. David Brown, 46, was a 
captain in the U.S. Navy and served as a naval aviator and flight 
surgeon. Brown received a bachelor of science degree in biology from 
the College of William and Mary in 1978 and a doctorate in medicine 
from Eastern Virginia Medical School in 1982. This was Brown's first 
space flight.
  Dr. Kalpana Chawla, mission specialist 2. Kalpana Chawla was an 
aerospace engineer and an FAA certified flight instructor. She received 
a bachelor of science degree in aeronautical engineering from India's 
Punjab Engineering College in 1982, a master of science degree in 
aerospace engineering from the University of Texas-Arlington in 1984, 
and a doctorate in aerospace engineering from the University of 
Colorado-Boulder in 1988. Chawla was the prime robotic arm operator on 
STS-87 in 1997 and had logged more than 376 hours in space prior to the 
Columbia flight. Chawla was the first Indian-born woman in space and 
leaves a husband behind.
  CDR Laurel Blair Salton Clark, mission specialist 4. Laurel Clark, 
41, was a commander in the U.S. Navy and a naval flight surgeon. She 
received a bachelor of science degree in zoology from the University of 
Wisconsin-Madison in 1983 and a doctorate in medicine from the same 
school in 1987. The Columbia flight was Clark's first space flight. She 
leaves behind a husband and an 8-year-old son.
  COL Ilan Ramon, payload specialist 1. Ilan Ramon, 48, was a colonel 
in the Israeli Air Force. Ramon received a bachelor of science degree 
in electronics and computer engineering from the University of Tel Aviv 
in 1987. He served as a fighter pilot during the 1970s, 80s, and 90s 
and was a veteran of the Yom Kippur War in 1973, as well as the 1982 
war in Lebanon. The Columbia flight was Ramon's first, and with it he 
became the first Israeli in space. He leaves behind a wife and four 
children.
  As you can see, this group of individuals would stand out in any 
company, and it is right that the country should mourn their loss. And 
as the country mourns, it is especially important that we remember the 
friends and family of the lost astronauts. If just their 
accomplishments and dedication to their countries can cause whole 
nations to mourn, I can only imagine the grief of those who knew them 
personally and lost not only a national hero, but a friend, or spouse, 
or parent. I can only hope the knowledge that the thoughts and prayers 
of entire Nations are with them will provide some small comfort.
  While our Nation grieves deeply for these men and women who have made 
the ultimate sacrifice in the name of their countries, we take solace 
in the fact that we will benefit immeasurably for years to come from 
their dedication and hard work. The crew of the Columbia surely 
represented the best of this world. They entered space not just as 
members of one nationality, race, or religion, but as fellow human 
beings. The crew members risked and ultimately sacrificed their lives, 
not for personal gain, but for the advancement of science and the 
betterment of humankind. It is for these reasons that I want to say 
thank you to COL Rick Husband, CDR William C. McCool, LTC Michael P. 
Anderson, CAPT David M. Brown, Dr. Kalpana Chawla, CDR Laurel Blair 
Salton Clark, COL Ilan Ramon, and all their friends and family who have 
shared in their sacrifice.
  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, we are deeply saddened by Saturday's 
loss of seven astronauts as they returned from a 16-day voyage aboard 
the space shuttle Columbia. The tragic loss of the crew of mission STS-
107 touches not only all Americans, but also many members of our 
larger, global community. As we honor the courageous men and women of 
the Columbia and mourn their loss, our thoughts and prayers are with 
their families and loved ones.
  The seven men and women aboard the Columbia were truly a select group 
of explorers. They represented the vast range and distinction of our 
nation's skills and achievements; all had extensive training in various 
fields of scientific inquiry. At the same time, they represented 
America's finest aspirations. Diverse in their origins, they shared a 
dream of space travel, and they lived and worked together in a common 
spirit of cooperation, curiosity, and courage.
  Michael Anderson, Columbia's payload commander, spoke for all the 
crew when he said the following, in an interview appearing in the 
Baltimore Sun this past Sunday:

       I take the risk because I think what we're doing is really 
     important. For me, it's the fact that what I'm doing can have 
     great consequences and great benefits for everyone, for 
     mankind.

  Research was the primary mission of STS-107. The Columbia carried 32 
payloads with material for 59 separate investigations. Among these 
payloads were student experiments from Australia, China, Israel, Japan, 
Liechtenstein, and the United States. State-of-the-art communications 
equipment allowed earthbound researchers and the global public to 
witness experiments as they were being performed. To make the most of 
their 16 short days in space, the seven astronauts worked in two 
shifts, around the clock. We have suffered the grievous loss of our 
astronauts. But the astronauts completed much of their mission.
  We can honor the crew of mission STS-107, Colonel Rick D. Husband, 
Commander William McCool, Lieutenant Colonel Michael P. Anderson, 
Captain David M. Brown, Dr. Kalpana Chawla, Commander Laurel Blair 
Salton Clark, and Colonel Ilan Ramon, by rededicating ourselves anew to 
the mission they so vigorously embraced. We must have a prompt and 
thorough account of the events that brought down the Columbia, but we 
must not let our great sense of loss deter us from continuing their 
work. For more than forty years, the space program has played a vital 
role in our broader national research efforts. Our space explorations 
have led to scores of new discoveries, which have given us not only 
better insights into the universe but also a better understanding of 
the earth, and of life here on earth. We will remain forever grateful 
to the crew of the Columbia for the legacy they have left us, and the 
example they set.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island is recognized.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleagues and the

[[Page S1927]]

country in remembering the seven brave crewmembers of the Space Shuttle 
Columbia who tragically lost their lives last Saturday morning, 
February 1, 2003.
  Rick Husband, William McCool, Michael Anderson, Kalpana Chawla, David 
M. Brown, Laurel Blair Salton Clark, and Ilan Ramon gave their lives 
trying to expand our knowledge of science, advance our technology, and 
broaden the limits of our universe.
  These seven courageous astronauts sacrificed their lives for our 
future. While this is a time of great sadness, it is also a time to 
take great pride in their achievements, their dedication, and their 
service to the Nation and to the world.
  They were seven different people with various skills, many talents, 
and different backgrounds, and they all came to work together as a 
team. That is what most people believe America should be like: working 
together as a team to accomplish something greater than themselves. 
They could have had very comfortable jobs somewhere else, but they 
chose to risk their lives for the country. They have not only found a 
place in our hearts, but they have found a place in our imagination 
also because, for me, they represent what this country is all about. 
They came together. They came from modest circumstances. They used the 
power of education to prepare themselves not just for personal success 
but to contribute to the Nation and to contribute to the world. They 
exemplify the best of this Nation.
  They understood that great accomplishment and great achievement bring 
great risk. They knew this, yet they valiantly accepted, in the name of 
science and exploration, all the risks. It is important we pay tribute 
to them and acknowledge the risks our astronauts take with every 
mission.
  We tend to take these risks for granted and forget the extreme 
conditions and pressures these brave men and women face and will face 
in the future. In honor of the crew of Columbia, we must not take these 
risks for granted any longer.
  In their honor, we must pledge to continue the peaceful exploration 
of space. We have forged international partnerships. We have been able 
to share the pride of an international space station. We must continue 
to fund NASA, continue our space programs, and continue in the 
tradition of American and human accomplishment.
  Later this year, we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 
Wright brothers' monumental 59-second flight on December 17, 1903. That 
flight forever changed the world. Fifty-four years later, we were able 
to put a man in space.
  The process of innovation and exploration must go on, and America 
must play its traditional significant, historic role.
  We have in our process from the sands of Kitty Hawk to the stretches 
of the Moon experienced powerful joy and monumental success, and yet we 
have faced tremendous setbacks and extreme sorrow. But we have 
persevered, and we have continued our missions into the heavens.
  From our colleague John Glenn and Allan Shepherd to Neil Armstrong to 
an international space station, and from the crew of Challenger and the 
crew of Columbia, we must continue to challenge ourselves as they 
challenged themselves. We must continue to better ourselves as a nation 
and continue to grow.
  President Kennedy challenged America to send a man to the Moon. We 
have met that challenge and have gone far beyond.
  As we continue with future missions, we must never forget these seven 
brave souls. They gave the ultimate sacrifice for a noble cause. My 
deepest condolences go out to their families and the Nation that mourns 
them and the country of Israel that mourns its lost astronaut. This is 
a time for mourning, but we must shortly move on and continue to run 
the great risks they took, in their memory, so we can build upon their 
sacrifice, so we continue to reach for the heavens and beyond.

  I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. ENSIGN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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