III 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 24 

Commemorating the 10-year anniversary of the loss of the Space Shuttle 

Columbia. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JANUARY 31, 2013 

Mr. CORNYN (for himself, Mr. NELSON, Mr. THUNE, Mr. ROCKEFELLER, Mr. 

ISAKSON, Mr. WARNER, Mr. HELLER, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. COBURN, Ms. 

MIKULSKI, Mr. RUBIO, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. ENZI, Mr. BROWN, Mr. PRYOR, 

Mr. ALEXANDER, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. JOHANNS, Mr. BEGICH, Mr. VITTER, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Mr. MORAN, Mr. HATCH, Mr. WICKER, and Mrs. 

GILLIBRAND) submitted the following resolution; which was considered 

and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Commemorating the 10-year anniversary of the loss of the 

Space Shuttle Columbia. 

Whereas a sense of adventure is innate to the human spirit; 

Whereas the urge to explore continues to motivate the United 

States as a nation; 

Whereas the global leadership of the United States is determined by the resolve of the people of the United States; 

Whereas the drive to innovate and explore has led the people 

of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

and related industry and education leaders to make imVerDate Mar 15 2010 21:27 Jan 31, 2013 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR24.ATS SR24

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portant discoveries with a broad impact on humanity, in 

spite of inherent risk; 

Whereas the men and women of the space program of the 

United States have captured the curiosity of the people 

of the United States, inspiring generations of scientists, 

engineers, and pioneers, and delivering technological advances and innovation, scientific research, and international partnerships to the benefit of nearly all sectors 

of the economy of the United States; 

Whereas, on February 1, 2003, the United States joined the 

world in mourning the loss of 7 astronauts who perished 

aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia as it re-entered the 

atmosphere of the Earth; 

Whereas United States Air Force Colonel Rick D. Husband, 

Mission Commander; United States Navy Commander 

William ‘‘Willie’’ C. 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 B. Clark, Mission Specialist; 

Dr. Kalpana Chawla, Mission Specialist; and Israeli Air 

Force Colonel Ilan Ramon, Payload Specialist were killed 

in the line of duty and in pursuit of discovery during the 

STS–107 mission; 

Whereas the people of the United States are driven to continue the exploration and pursuit of discovery with as 

much passion and determination as these brave men and 

women; 

Whereas an innate curiosity about what lies beyond our world 

drives us to expand the limits of human exploration and 


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discovery in space, in the furtherance of the leadership 

and strategic interests of the United States; 

Whereas exploring the heavens and the celestial bodies of the 

solar system is not without great risk and peril; 

Whereas the loss of the 7 brave souls aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia and others who have sacrificed their lives in 

pursuit of human space exploration shall forever serve as 

a solemn reminder of the firm commitment of the United 

States to devote the capacity and resources necessary to 

improve safety, minimize risk, and do everything possible 

to protect the next generation of explorers willing to risk 

themselves in the service of mankind; 

Whereas those involved in the Space Shuttle program of the 

United States have sought to apply the lessons learned 

from the Space Shuttle Columbia accident to future 

human spaceflight by the United States, which included 

22 additional program missions and shepherding the 

Space Shuttle program to its safe and successful conclusion; 

Whereas the lessons learned from the Space Shuttle Columbia accident should be applied to current policy of the 

space program of the United States; and 

Whereas the people of the United States will not forget the 

sacrifice of those 7 determined explorers aboard the 

Space Shuttle Columbia, as well as others who perished 

in the exploration of the unknown: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) remembers the 7 astronauts who tragically 

3 lost their lives aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia as 


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1 it re-entered the atmosphere of the Earth 10 years 

2 ago on February 1, 2003; 

3 (2) expresses its condolences to the friends and 

4 families of the astronauts who died that day; 

5 (3) commends those who have honored the 

6 memory of the Space Shuttle Columbia over the past 

7 decade, including the employees of Federal, State, 

8 and local agencies, as well as regular citizens and 

9 volunteers, who assisted in the debris recovery and 

10 accident investigation process; and 

11 (4) reaffirms the commitment of the people and 

12 the Government of the United States to provide the 

13 leadership and resources necessary to ensure robust 

14 and safe human spaceflight capability in low Earth 

15 orbit and beyond in the 21st century, to make cer16 tain that the sacrifice of those heroes shall not have 

17 been in vain. 

Æ 


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