Commemorating the Columbia Astronauts

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
SENATE

COMMEMORATING THE "COLUMBIA" ASTRONAUTS

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.