Thomas Daschle: “in 1920, H.G. Wells wrote: Life, forever dying to be born afresh, forever young and eager, will presently stand upon…”

“in 1920, H.G. Wells wrote: Life, forever dying to be born afresh, forever young and eager, will presently stand upon this earth as upon a footstool, and stretch out its realm amidst the stars. We have long since realized that vision, voyaging from our planet, putting men and women and machines beyond the reach of the Earth, traveling the ``airless Saharas'' of space, exploring new worlds. What we have been able to do requires the best minds of science, an audacity of imagination, and people explorers of uncommon bravery. Today, we mourn seven of those brave explorers. These men and women stood upon our Earth as a footstool, stretched out our realm amidst the stars, set out on a voyage of discovery--and did not return. I can only hope that our words, our prayers, and a world's shared sorrow will help bring peace to their families and loved ones.”