For Release: Saturday, February 1, 2003
Contact: Frank Miles: (202) 225-5661

STATEMENT OF US CONGRESSMAN JERRY COSTELLO - SENIOR MEMBER OF THE U.S. HOUSE SCIENCE COMMITTEE WITH JURISDICTION OVER NASA

BELLEVILLE, IL -- My thoughts and prayers go out today to the families of the seven astronauts lost today with the Space Shuttle Columbia. This is a terrible tragedy!

We are fortunate to have highly trained men and women who make up our astronaut corps, each with a strong passion for space exploration. Space shuttle flights are what many people consider a routine event, however each mission has a very high risk. Both the nation and our world benefit in many ways from each mission.

We must now comfort and console the family members of these seven astronauts who have given their lives in service to their country and mankind. We must undertake the task of determining the cause of this tragedy and we must recommit ourselves and our country to pressing forward with our space program.

(In October of last year, Costello accompanied NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe to witness the launch of STS 112 carrying seven astronauts, including Sandy Magnus of Belleville, IL. That last shuttle mission was a success.)

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