Jay Rockefeller: “this past Saturday, the world once again became painfully aware of the risks inherent in manned space travel. The…”

“this past Saturday, the world once again became painfully aware of the risks inherent in manned space travel. The Columbia tragedy has deeply wounded not only members of the NASA community, but also every American and indeed every person around the world who has ever looked up into the night sky and gazed in wonderment. Of course, space exploration has always been a dangerous venture, and the seven astronauts who gave their lives on Saturday knew this full well and accepted their mission without reservation. Their long dedication to public service and their willingness to sacrifice, even at the risk of their own lives, in pursuit of knowledge and the betterment of mankind should be celebrated. We honor these American heroes. At the same time, all of our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the crew during this terrible and difficult time. May they know that every American is forever indebted to their loved ones for their bravery and devotion to the American space program. As we sort out the causes of this tragedy over the next several months and years, however, we must not fear the exploration of outer space. We must strive to return to space as soon as possible, maybe with different means, maybe unmanned, until we can be most assured of improved safety, for the benefits of the space program are innumerable and irrefutable.”