H.C.R. 12 Enrolled

RESOLUTION HONORING CREW OF SPACE
SHUTTLE COLUMBIA
2003 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: John Dougall
Douglas C. Aagard
J. Stuart Adams
Jeff Alexander
Sheryl L. Allen
Eli H. Anderson
Roger E. Barrus
Ralph Becker
Chad E. Bennion
Ron Bigelow
Calvin G. Bird
Jackie Biskupski
Duane E. Bourdeaux
DeMar Bud Bowman
Katherine M. Bryson
Judy Ann Buffmire
Don E. Bush
Craig W. Buttars
D. Gregg Buxton
F. LaVar Christensen
David Clark
Stephen D. Clark
David N. Cox
Greg J. Curtis
Scott Daniels
Margaret DaytonBrad L. Dee
Marda Dillree
Glenn A. Donnelson
Carl W. Duckworth
James A. Dunnigan
James A. Ferrin
Ben C. Ferry
Brent H. Goodfellow
James R. Gowans
Neil A. Hansen
Ann W. Hardy
Wayne A. Harper
Neal B. Hendrickson
David L. Hogue
Kory M. Holdaway
Gregory H. Hughes
Eric K. Hutchings
Bradley T. Johnson
Patricia W. Jones
Brad King
Todd E. Kiser
Bradley G. Last
M. Susan Lawrence
David Litvack
Rebecca D. LockhartDana C. Love
Steven R. Mascaro
Ty McCartney
Rosalind J. McGee
Karen W. Morgan
Michael T. Morley
Carol Spackman Moss
Joseph G. Murray
Merlynn T. Newbold
Michael E. Noel
Loraine T. Pace
Darin G. Peterson
J. Morgan Philpot
Jack A. Seitz
LaWanna Lou Shurtliff
Gordon E. Snow
Martin R. Stephens
Michael R. Styler
Mike Thompson
David Ure
Stephen H. Urquhart
Peggy Wallace
R. Curt Webb
Bradley A. Winn
This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor recognizes the tragic loss
of the crew of the space shuttle Columbia and expresses gratitude for their service.
Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
WHEREAS, at approximately 9:00 a.m. EST on February 1, 2003, the crew of space
shuttle mission STS-107 aboard space shuttle Columbia was lost during re-entry into Earth's
atmosphere;
WHEREAS, the nation and the world mourns the loss of Americans Colonel Rick D.

Husband, Commander William C. McCool, Lt. Colonel Michael P. Anderson, Dr. Kalpana
Chawla, Captain David M. Brown, Commander Laurel Blair Salton Clark, and Israeli Colonel
Ilan Ramon;
WHEREAS, these astronauts were crew members on a space shuttle with a unique and
historic heritage;
WHEREAS, the space shuttle Columbia's maiden voyage was April 12-14, 1981;
WHEREAS, the space shuttle Columbia has flown 28 flights between 1981 and 2003;
WHEREAS, the space shuttle Columbia was the first Space Shuttle to fly into Earth's
orbit in 1981 and the oldest orbiter in the Shuttle fleet;
WHEREAS, the space shuttle Columbia became the first reusable spaceship;
WHEREAS, the space shuttle Columbia was named after the Boston,
Massachusetts-based sloop captained by American Robert Gray, who on May 11, 1792
maneuvered the Columbia past the dangerous sandbar at the mouth of a river extending more that
1,000 miles through what is today south-eastern British Columbia, Canada, and the
Washington-Oregon border, which river now bears the ship's name;
WHEREAS, this same 18th century sailing vessel became the first American ship to
circumnavigate the globe;
WHEREAS, the first United States Navy Ship to circle the globe also bore the name
Columbia;
WHEREAS, the command module of Apollo 11, the first lunar landing mission, also bore
the name Columbia;
WHEREAS, the name "Columbia" is derived from the name of the famous explorer,
Christopher Columbus;
WHEREAS, Commander Rick D. Husband, 45, was a colonel in the U.S. Air Force, a
test pilot and veteran of one spaceflight, was selected by NASA in December 1994 to serve as
pilot of the STS-96 and had logged more that 235 hours in space;
WHEREAS, Pilot William C. McCool, 41, a commander in the U.S. Navy and former
test pilot, was selected by NASA in April 1996 and was making his first spaceflight;

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WHEREAS, Payload Commander Michael P. Anderson, 43, a lieutenant colonel in the
U.S. Air Force, was a former instructor pilot and tactical officer with over 211 hours in space,
having flown on STS-89;
WHEREAS, Mission Specialist 1 David M. Brown, 46, a captain in the U.S. Navy and a
naval aviator and flight surgeon, was selected by NASA in April 1996 and was making his first
spaceflight;
WHEREAS, Mission Specialist 2 Kalpana Chawla, 41, an aerospace engineer and an
FAA Certified Flight Instructor, was selected by NASA in December 1994 and had logged more
than 376 hours in space, having flown on STS-87;
WHEREAS, Mission Specialist 4 Laurel Blair Salton Clark, 41, a commander
(captain-select) in the U.S. Navy and a naval flight surgeon, was selected by NASA in April 1996
and was making her first spaceflight;
WHEREAS, Payload Specialist 1 Ilan Ramon, 48, a colonel in the Israeli Air Force and a
fighter pilot, was the only payload specialist on STS-107, was approved by NASA in 1998, was
making his first spaceflight, and was the first Israeli in space;
WHEREAS, these men and women knew the dangers and faced them willingly;
WHEREAS, their courage, daring, and idealism, in service to all humanity, will make us
miss them all the more;
WHEREAS, the crew had eagerly prepared for many years to explore the universe and
expand the boundaries of knowledge, establishing new frontiers in research and exploration;
WHEREAS, these crew members will always be remembered as heroes, pioneers, and
valiant explorers on behalf of all;
WHEREAS, the full impact of this tragedy is only borne by the families of those seven;
WHEREAS, the tragic loss of the Columbia crew is a painful part of the process of
exploration, discovery, and the expanding of man's horizons, and a sobering reminder that the
future doesn't belong to the fainthearted, but to the brave;
WHEREAS, not since that tragic loss of the crew of the space shuttle Challenger, almost
17 years ago to the day, has America's space program suffered such a great loss;

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WHEREAS, President George W. Bush stated that although the crew did not return safely
to Earth, we pray that all are safely home;
WHEREAS, the flight path of the space shuttle Columbia crossed southern Utah for the
intended destination of Kennedy Space Center, Florida;
WHEREAS, many Utahns witnessed the space shuttle Columbia as it streaked over
southern Utah on its eastwardly landing approach; and
WHEREAS, many Utah citizens have contributed in a wide array of service to the
success of the U.S. space program:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
Governor concurring therein, recognize the tragic loss of the crew of the space shuttle Columbia.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor express deep
gratitude for the crew's courage and willingness to serve all mankind.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor express sincere
condolences to the families of the crew of the space shuttle Columbia, President Bush, Prime
Minister Sharon, and the entire U.S. space program family.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the families of the
space shuttle Columbia's crew, NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe, the President of the United
States, the Prime Minister of Israel, the Governor of Texas, the Governor of Louisiana, the
Governor of Florida, and to the members of Utah's congressional delegation.

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