Senate Concurrent Resolution
No. 9
CHAPTER 3
Relative to the Space Shuttle Columbia.
[
Filed with
Secretary of State
February 21, 2003.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SCR 9, Knight.
Space Shuttle Columbia.
This measure would express the Legislature’s most profound, heartfelt condolences to the families of Columbia’s crew and its gratitude to the crew and their families and all past, current, and future astronauts for their bravery and selfless sacrifice for the benefit of humankind. It would also affirm the Legislature’s support for our nation’s continued aggressive world leadership in space exploration with full confidence that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will discover and remedy the causes of Columbia’s loss and the need to incorporate these modern technologies into our new generation of space vehicles.
Digest Key
WHEREAS, The United States leads the world in pursuit of the highly risky, but crucial endeavor of space exploration, and the future benefits of space exploration will likely be vital to the continued existence, health, and prosperity of the human race; and
WHEREAS, The Columbia, the first member of the United States’ fleet of space shuttles, all of which were built in California, and her heroic crew of seven astronauts were tragically lost as she reentered Earth’s atmosphere on February 1, 2003; and
WHEREAS, Columbia’s final launch into space was the shuttle’s 28th venture into the hostile environment of space to further the knowledge of mankind and create opportunities for future generations; and
WHEREAS, The brave, brilliant men and women who serve onboard space flight vehicles as pilots and scientists rank among the greatest explorers in history, carrying on the proud tradition of Ferdinand Magellan, Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus, Robert La Salle, and Lewis and Clark; and
WHEREAS, The crew of Columbia’s final flight left behind not only a valuable body of scientific work, but spouses, children, parents, siblings, and other relatives, and many close friends; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature expresses its most profound, heartfelt condolences to the families of Mission Commander Rick D. Husband, Pilot William C. McCool, Payload Commander Michael P. Anderson, Mission Specialist David M. Brown, Mission Specialist Kalpana Chawla, Mission Specialist Laurel Blair Salton Clark, and Mission Specialist Ilan Ramon; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature formally expresses its gratitude to Columbia’s crew and their families, and also all past, current, and future astronauts for their bravery and selfless sacrifice for the benefit of humankind; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature affirms its support for our nation’s continued aggressive world leadership in space exploration, with full confidence that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration will discover and remedy the causes of Columbia’s loss, without overlooking the need for a new generation of space vehicles that incorporate more modern technologies; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the families of the Columbia’s crew, to the President and Congress of the United States, and to the author for appropriate distribution.