Support Space Exploration!

SFWA Statement of Support for Space Exploration

To offer condolences to the family and friends of the Columbia’s crew and to encourage carrying on their spirit of exploration, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. and its members have released the following statement of support.

Please forward this message to everyone you know who is interested in continued space exploration and have them visit http://www.nyx.net/columbia to express their support.

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“I pray for one last landing
On the globe that gave me birth;
Let me rest my eyes on the fleecy skies
And the cool, green hills of Earth.”

— Robert A. Heinlein;
“The Green Hills of Earth”
(Used by permission)

On the morning of Saturday, February 1st, 2003, seven astronauts aboard the NASA space shuttle Columbia lost their lives as they were returning to Earth from a sixteen-day mission dedicated to the quest for scientific knowledge. They represented not only the United States of America, Israel, and India, but indeed all of humanity — our greatest dreams, our most noble aspirations.

The loss of the Columbia and its crew touches the lives of not just Americans, Israelis, and Indians, but in fact everyone on Earth. The exploration of space is one of the human race’s oldest ambitions, one that has been reflected in our literature long before we developed the technological capability to venture forth into the cosmos. We must not allow this tragedy to bring an end to this magnificent journey, but instead let their courageous example lead us upward and outward.

We the undersigned, members of the professional community of science fiction and fantasy writers, express our most heartfelt sympathy to the families and friends of the crew of the Columbia, and our support to the men and women of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the many contributing organizations worldwide, for their continuing efforts to establish humankind as a spacefaring people.

— Written 2/2/2003 by Allen Steele & Friends

Signed,

The President and the Board of Directors of the Science Fiction
and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc., and several hundred
professional authors (as listed on the web site).

To Add Your Name in Support or View All Supporters and Their Comments, Visit:

http://www.nyx.net/columbia

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Please forward this message to everyone you know who is interested in continued space exploration and have them visit http://www.nyx.net/columbia to express their support.

SFWA is a professional writers’ organization; general information is available at www.sfwa.org.

Members of the press with questions may contact Dr. Andrew Burt for more information.

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