III 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 28 

Commemorating the 20-year anniversary of the loss of Space Shuttle 

Columbia. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 2, 2023 

Ms. CANTWELL (for herself, Mr. CRUZ, Mr. KELLY, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. CORNYN, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. JOHNSON, Mr. KAINE, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. 

PADILLA, Mr. WARNER, Mr. DURBIN, and Mr. SCOTT of Florida) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Commemorating the 20-year anniversary of the loss of Space 

Shuttle Columbia. 

Whereas space remains at the frontier of science, as expressed in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy at Rice 

University in Houston, Texas; 

Whereas space exploration has been integral to the global 

technological leadership of the United States and to inspiring a STEM workforce for more than 60 years; 

Whereas astronauts of the National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration have bravely given their lives in pursuit of 

exploration; 

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

global space community joined together in mourning the 


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•SRES 28 ATS 

loss of Space Shuttle Columbia and the 7 astronauts of 

the STS–107 mission, who perished on their return 

home; 

Whereas United States Air Force Colonel Rick D. Husband, 

Mission Commander, of Amarillo, Texas, died in service 

to his nation; 

Whereas United States Navy Commander William ‘‘Willie’’ C. 

McCool, Pilot, of San Diego, California, died in service 

to his nation; 

Whereas United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Michael 

P. Anderson, Payload Commander and Mission Specialist, of Spokane, Washington, died in service to his nation; 

Whereas United States Navy Captain David M. Brown M.D., 

Mission Specialist, of Arlington, Virginia, died in service 

to his nation; 

Whereas United States Navy Captain Laurel B. Clark, Mission Specialist, of Racine, Wisconsin, died in service to 

her nation; 

Whereas Kalpana Chawla, Ph.D., Mission Specialist, of 

Karnal, India, became a United States citizen and the 

first woman of Indian origin in space and died in service 

her nation; 

Whereas Israeli Air Force Colonel Ilan Ramon, Payload Specialist, of Tel Aviv, Israel, became the first Israeli in 

space and died in service to his nation; 

Whereas the people of the United States will not forget the 

sacrifice of the crew of STS–107 aboard Space Shuttle 

Columbia, as well as others who perished in the exploration of space; and 


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•SRES 28 ATS 

Whereas National Aeronautics and Space Administration astronauts continue to make tremendous personal sacrifices 

and risk their lives in service to their nation and to all 

of humanity: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) remembers and honors the 7 astronauts 

3 who lost their lives on February 1, 2003, on Space 

4 Shuttle Columbia; 

5 (2) expresses deep condolences and gratitude to 

6 the families, friends, and colleagues of— 

7 (A) United States Air Force Colonel Rick 

8 D. Husband; 

9 (B) United States Navy Commander Wil10 liam ‘‘Willie’’ C. McCool; 

11 (C) United States Air Force Lieutenant 

12 Colonel Michael P. Anderson; 

13 (D) United States Navy Captain David M. 

14 Brown; 

15 (E) United States Navy Captain Laurel B. 

16 Clark; 

17 (F) Dr. Kalpana Chawla; and 

18 (G) Israeli Air Force Colonel Ilan Ramon; 

19 (3) commends all those who assisted in the de20 bris recovery and accident investigation process, in21 cluding helicopter pilot Jules ‘‘Buzz’’ F. Mier Jr. 

22 and Texas Forest Service Aviation Specialist Charles 


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•SRES 28 ATS 

1 G. Krenek, who both died during debris search, and 

2 dedicated staff across the National Aeronautics and 

3 Space Administration; and 

4 (4) reaffirms the commitment of the United 

5 States Government to create a culture of safety and 

6 innovation within all agencies and companies pur7 suing the exploration of space, including in the pur8 suit of the United States’ return to the Moon and 

9 first visit to Mars through the Artemis missions and 

10 Moon to Mars efforts. 

Æ 


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