"High Flight"

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds, -and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,

I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless falls of air...

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue

I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace

Where never lark, nor eagle flew--

And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod

The high, interspersed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

John Gillespie Magee (1941)

These words by John Magee have inspired military and civilian pilots since World War II and as I reflect on the Columbia space shuttle tragedy, I find comfort in these words, as I am sure those seven brave astronauts did over the course of their careers.

All too often we have gathered as a nation to mourn the loss of brave people who took great personal risks on behalf of all humanity. Americans across the country and citizens around the globe came together to honor the individuals who lost their lives pursuing the dream of space exploration.

Aside from being astronauts, physicians, and scientists, these seven people were mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters. The loss and pain their families feel right now is immeasurable. Although I am sure they understood the dangerous nature and the physical risks associated with exploration, nothing could prepare these families for the heartache and pain of losing their loved one.

Over the past few days, many people have speculated on the future of the NASA Space program. Some have even said that the risks are just too great to continue or that we should re-evaluate our priorities. I think that the only way to truly honor the sacrifice made by these seven astronauts is to press on by continuing our space program. From this tragedy, we should strengthen our resolve and recommit our resources to future space missions.

From the days when brave sailors first voyaged across the Atlantic Ocean to those pioneers who traveled west past the Mississippi River to discover America, exploration and discovery are part of man's desire. 100 years ago two brothers launched a vehicle into the air at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina and only one century later, we are routinely launching dozens of shuttle missions into outer space. Our legacy and heritage in exploration is great and it must continue.

 The NASA Space exploration mission is to, in the words of NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe "push the envelope...to do what has never been done before. NASA is what Americans and the people of the world think of when the conversation turns to the future."

NASA shoulders the responsibility of discovering the future frontiers for all of humanity and sadly with that responsibility comes great risk.

As President Bush addressed our nation last week, he quoted the prophet Isaiah and comforted all of us by saying, "the same Creator who names the stars also knows the names of the seven souls we mourn. The crew of the shuttle Columbia did not return safely to Earth; yet we can pray that all are safely home."

The President's words bring comfort to this mourning nation. As we remember the lives of Colonel Rick Husband, Lt. Colonel Michael Anderson, Commander Laurel Clark, Captain David Brown, Commander William McCool, Dr. Kalpana Chawla and Israeli Air Force Colonel Ilan Ramon we can not forget their dreams - the dream that they gave their lives for -exploration into space for the betterment of all humankind