Statement from North American Representatives On the Loss of Columbia and Her Crew

NEW YORK, NY - Feb. 4, 2003

We, the representatives of North American organizations supporting the next generation of space leaders, offer our deepest sympathies to the families, friends, and co-workers of STS-107. We share their loss and we wish them
courage and strength during these trying times.

Columbia's seven astronauts faced innumerable challenges and considerable risks in their everyday work. They sacrificed their lives for the ideal of increasing human knowledge. We are encouraged by their achievements in science as well as multicultural cooperation, and are motivated by their enthusiasm and dedication to a purely noble endeavor. We are inspired by their passionate vision of advancing humankind through the peaceful uses of
outer space.

As representatives of organizations that promote the role of young people in space activities, our dream is a peaceful future in space. We acknowledge the extreme risks and challenges that go hand-in-hand with the space flight program. President John F. Kennedy, speaking in 1962 about the fledgling space program, said, "All great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulties, and both must be enterprised and overcome with answerable courage." The astronauts' tragic fate should not and will not make us falter. Even while we mourn their passing, their dreams will live on in our dreams, in the goals we set and pursue as space advocates, and in the future of space exploration that we build together.

Twenty-five years from now, when the young people of today are the world's space policy decision-makers, we hope to look back at this defining moment and admire the role that young people took in rededicating our world to this effort. We resolve that the significant challenges of the space programs in our countries will be met head-on by the determination and enthusiasm of the young people in our organizations. We are firmly dedicated to the dream of peaceful exploration of space and will be working even harder in the coming days, weeks, months, and years -- through space advocacy, educational programs, and outreach -- to ensure that the dreams of the Columbia crew and our dreams become a reality.

We encourage all young people around the world to show their support for the space program by contacting their local government representative. We also invite you to submit your thoughts and ideas to the Space Generation Advisory Council's web forum, "Our Future in Space." Please visit http://unsgac.org/webforum to participate.

For more information about our organizations' efforts, please visit our websites, or contact Ms. Srimal W. Choi at srimal@unsgac.org.

Respectfully,

Mr. James Chase
President
NASA Academy Alumni Association
http://www.nasa-academy.org

Mr. Eric Choi
Vice President
Canadian Alumni of the International Space University
http://www.caisu.ca

Ms. Srimal Wangu Choi
North American Representative, Space Generation Advisory Council in Support of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications
http://www.unsgac.org
Vice President - Operations, NASA Academy Alumni Association
http://www.nasa-academy.org

Ms. Mindy Gallo
Vice President - Finance
NASA Academy Alumni Association
http://www.nasa-academy.org

Ms. Loretta Hidalgo
Co-creator of Yuri's Night
Space Generation Foundation
http://www.spacegen.org

Mr. Ricardo Leon
State Representative - Mexico
Space Generation Advisory Council in Support of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications
http://www.unsgac.org

Mr. Christopher Lewicki
Chair
Students for the Exploration and Development of Space
http://www.seds.org

Mr. Joshua Neubert
Director of Finance
Students for the Exploration and Development of Space
http://www.seds.org

Ms. Jana Rebmann
Vice President
International Space University - U.S. Alumni Association
http://www.isunet.edu

Mr. Lawrence A. Reeves
President
Canadian Alumni of the International Space University
http://www.caisu.ca

Mr. George Weinmann
President
International Space University - U.S. Alumni Association
http://www.isunet.edu

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