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The crew of Columbia were real heroes! We can remember them best by continuing manned space exploration.

The crew of Columbia, Rick Douglas Husband, Ilan Ramon, Michael P. Anderson, Laurel Blair Salton Clark, William C. McCook, David M. Brown and Kalpana C. Chawla, all are real heroes, to be remembered and honored for their work and courage to go where no man nor woman has gone before. They lived in pursuit of their dreams, working for the betterment of humanity, that each of our lives may be uplifted by their endeavors and that ultimate sacrifice which they gave. Let us not soon forget these brave souls.

Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those who parished during the reentry of Columbia. There is no way to console their loss, yet as family members of a great nation and world, we each must reach out with our prayers and love, that perhaps some comfort might be had through the realization that their loss was our loss, was the nation's loss, was the world's loss.

Let us not, however, lose the dream to continue exploring the unknown, to continue reaching for the stars. Life without challenging the unknown, without struggling to overcome obsticles, without fighting to reach unreachable goals, is not the type of life those who died upon Columbia could have ever lived. What they each gave us was an example that no matter what the challenge, what the risks, what the barrier, be it the bounds of Earth iteslf, that should be the focus and endeavor of our lives.

With this in mind let us learn from this tragedy and go forth with new resolve to work together, nation with nation, to make our world a better place for all of humanity. Let us build nations together, vanishing threats to freedom, vanquishing threats to life and liberty, moving forward to learn how to live together, in peace, standing united against terrorism and all who would destroy those greatest of dreams which make us strong as a people, as a nation, as a humanity.

Exploring space, working to build an International Space Station, is a great challenge. It is perhaps even a greater challenge to rid the world of those who wish to keep humanity ignorant, to enslave and repress entire nations. Perhaps we may best remember those who perished in the decent of Columbia, by working to keep our nation and every nation free, bringing freedom and liberty to others who might then excel in their potential to reach for their dreams, no matter how far or fanciful they might seem.

Peace on Earth is possible, but only when we meet the challenge to secure freedom for all people to sore highest and reach farthest. Let us, then, with tears and aching hearts, give a parting salute to the crew of the Columbia. Then with firm resolve let us continue their journey to advance human knowledge, brotherhood and freedom on Earth for all people!

American Patriots Association
A not-for-profit corporation
1 Feb., 2003

How To Fix The Space Shuttle Problem

We need to move forward and start thinking about the next generation of reusable space launch vehicles. The fact that two space shuttles, Challenger in 1986 and Columbia in 2003, have been lost, with only three remaining space shuttles, Atlantis, Endeavor and Discovery, indicates a need to proceed full force with a program to develop and implement a new reusable launch vehicle technology.

The problem with the space shuttle shedding tiles has been an on going concern, a problem which should have been fixed years ago but was not due to cut backs in research and development budgets. This problem needs to be fixed now, because unless we forever solve the tile problem, future space transport vehicles using the same technology will be in jeopardy.

Perhaps there is a better way to insulate reentry vehicles from the extreme heat generated when a space craft plunges back to Earth through the atmosphere. Instead of using a single layer of thick silica tiles held on with just glue, how about using four to six layers of thin tiles made like LEGOs, spaced one atop the other in a lattice, such that the seams produced by one layer of tiles are covered by the next layer of tiles! Because these tiles would be clipped-locked and sealed on to the metallic surface of the wing, each layer of tile clip-locking and sealing in place with the next layer, this would forever solve the tile shedding problem. Even if an upper layer tile were lost or damaged, there would be backup layers of tiles beneath to provide protection.

Such simple and innovative concepts need to be tested. Moreover, we need to be pouring dollars into education that our children will be able to solve technical problem like these which may crop up in the future. Unless we educate the children of today, teaching them how to solve problems that do not have known solutions, lives are going to continue to be lost to failure of systems.

Tragedies like those which occurred with Columbia can be avoided. But to meet the challenge of space exploration we must be willing to fully fund education, to fully fund the space program and to press forward to develop and implement new technology. As it is we are gambling with the lives of our astronauts, depending upon 30 year old patchwork technology, when we should have already built, tested and implemented the next generation of reusable space transport vehicles.

American Patriots Association
A not-for-profit corporation
4 Feb., 2003