Hollywood, Fla.
The American labor movement joins with the rest of our nation and the world in mourning the tragic loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia and of its crew shortly before they were slated to touch down on February 1, 2003. The astronauts’ sudden and shocking deaths and the loss of the space shuttle remind us that the mystery and miracle of space travel, which we so often take for granted today, remains both awesome and dangerous.
The Columbia space shuttle was build and flown by union members. The astronauts—commander Rick Husband; pilot William McCool; payload commander Michael Anderson; mission specialists David Brown, Laurel Clark and Kalpana Chawla; and Israel's first astronaut, payload specialist Ilan Ramon—were scientists, explorers, and pioneers, united in their vision, dedication and drive. From Israel to India to Spokane to Racine, these men and women came together as a team in space to investigate and understand our world.
We honor the courage and determination of the Columbia 7 as we mourn their unexpected deaths. We extend our sympathy and support to their families, colleagues and friends, along with our hope that they may take solace in the knowledge that their loved ones died pursuing their dreams, on the adventure of a lifetime, in service to the nation and the world.