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[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 24 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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 important 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 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
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) remembers the 7 astronauts who tragically lost their 
        lives aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia as it re-entered the 
        atmosphere of the Earth 10 years ago on February 1, 2003;
            (2) expresses its condolences to the friends and families 
        of the astronauts who died that day;
            (3) commends those who have honored the memory of the Space 
        Shuttle Columbia over the past decade, including the employees 
        of Federal, State, and local agencies, as well as regular 
        citizens and volunteers, who assisted in the debris recovery 
        and accident investigation process; and
            (4) reaffirms the commitment of the people and the 
        Government of the United States to provide the leadership and 
        resources necessary to ensure robust and safe human spaceflight 
        capability in low Earth orbit and beyond in the 21st century, 
        to make certain that the sacrifice of those heroes shall not 
        have been in vain.
                                 <all>
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