[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 507 Engrossed in House (EH)]
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
February 3, 2004.
Whereas February 1, 2004, marks the one year anniversary of the accident that
claimed the Space Shuttle Columbia and the lives of seven heroic
astronauts that made up its crew;
Whereas, while in orbit, Columbia's experienced crew conducted important
microgravity research into the life sciences, physical sciences, and
space and earth sciences, in addition to promoting education
initiatives;
Whereas the Columbia experienced a structural failure that resulted in its
destruction over the States of Texas and Louisiana as it approached to
land on February 1, 2003;
Whereas the seven crew members of STS-107, Rick D. Husband (Commander), William
C. McCool (Pilot), Michael P. Anderson (Payload Commander), Kalpana
Chawla (Mission Specialist), David M. Brown (Mission Specialist), Laurel
B. Clark (Mission Specialist), and Ilan Ramon (Payload Specialist)
exhibited unparalleled bravery and commitment to the goal of exploring
space and advancing mankind's search for knowledge in the cosmos;
Whereas Rick Husband, 45, was a Colonel in the United States Air Force, a test
pilot, and a veteran of STS-96, and held degrees from Texas Tech
University and California State University, Fresno;
Whereas William C. McCool, 41, was a Commander in the United States Navy and
test pilot, and held degrees from the United States Naval Academy and
the University of Maryland;
Whereas Michael P. Anderson, 43, was a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States
Air Force, a former pilot instructor and tactical officer, and a veteran
of STS-89, and held degrees from the University of Washington and
Creighton University;
Whereas Kalpana Chawla, 41, was an aerospace engineer, a Federal Aviation
Administration Certified Flight Instructor, and a veteran of STS-87, and
held degrees from Punjab Engineering College (India), the University of
Texas at Arlington, and the University of Colorado, Boulder;
Whereas David M. Brown, 46, was a Captain in the United States Navy, a naval
aviator, and a naval flight surgeon, and held degrees from the College
of William and Mary and Eastern Virginia Medical School;
Whereas Laurel B. Clark, 41, was a Commander in the United States Navy and naval
flight surgeon, and held degrees from the University of Wisconsin,
Madison;
Whereas Ilan Ramon, 48, was a Colonel in the Israeli Air Force, a fighter pilot,
and Israel's first astronaut;
Whereas these brave astronauts will never be forgotten by the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration family and all those who believe in
the importance of exploring our universe; and
Whereas when the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Mars
Exploration Rover (MER) Spirit landed on Mars on January 3, 2004, it
brought with it a small commemorative plaque bearing the names of the
seven astronauts, establishing an enduring memorial on another planet to
the fallen crew of Space Shuttle Columbia: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives does offer its gratitude to the
seven Space Shuttle Columbia astronauts and its heartfelt sympathy to their
families on the anniversary of their loss, with the reassurance that this
sacrifice will not have been made in vain, but will strengthen this Nation's
resolve to continue their journey of discovery.
Attest:
Clerk.