[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 514]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               SPACE SHUTTLE ``CHALLENGER''/``COLUMBIA''

  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I rise today to remember two events, one 
which occurred 20 years ago this past Wednesday, and another which took 
place 3 years ago today. These dates mark profound tragedies in the 
history of the U.S. space program.
  As my colleagues will remember, the space shuttle Challenger exploded 
just minutes after takeoff in 1986, claiming the lives of five men and 
two women, among them Christa McAuliffe, who was to have been the first 
teacher in space. She is quoted as saying shortly before the flight, 
``One of the things I hope to bring back into the classroom is to make 
that connection with the students that they too are part of history, 
the space program belongs to them.'' I believe this statement 
represents very well the spirit of curiosity and the hope for the 
future that both these brave explorers and the space program represent.
  Then, just 3 short years ago, seven men and women lost their lives 
when the space shuttle Columbia exploded as it reentered the 
atmosphere. So many individuals pulled together to help in recovery 
efforts after this national tragedy. The police departments, 
firefighters, local VFWs and emergency services, as well as the 
thousands of volunteers from East Texas and across the State, worked 
remarkably well together to handle the crisis and to prevent further 
tragedy on the ground. Law enforcement officials, NASA, and FEMA faced 
such a difficult time in the aftermath--and they handled the stress 
with grace.
  The NASA community suffered a profound loss with these tragedies. 
This dedicated team of professionals is a symbol of our passion for 
science, exploration, and the discovery of places and worlds as yet 
unknown, and we appreciate the service of all of these men and women.
  The seven heroes who lost their lives that day had dedicated 
themselves to the future of our Nation's space program, seven men and 
women who knew the risks of climbing into a rocket, leaving the Earth, 
and exploring the heavens, seven men and women who 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
       Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon

These brave seven, as well as the crew lost with Columbia, as well as 
the three who lost their lives to the Apollo 1 fire in 1967, are all 
shining examples of the courage, enthusiasm, and awe that runs through 
the veins of all the men and women of NASA--and all the eager children 
across this Nation who look to the stars and see the beginning, not the 
end, of their universe.
  These brave astronauts throughout the space program inspire not only 
our Nation and our children--they inspire the world. Their actions, 
bravery, and achievement are a challenge to humankind. A challenge to 
dream, to achieve more and to reach farther than ever thought possible. 
I thank these courageous explorers--and those they left behind--for 
their sacrifice for our country.

                          ____________________