Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) congratulated Downey civic leaders and residents on the completion of its newly constructed state-of-the-art Columbia Memorial Space Science Learning Center.  The center is scheduled to be open to the public on January 31, 2009.  Located on a 13-acre parcel of the former NASA Downey site, the 20,000-square-foot facility honors the memory of the Columbia Space Shuttle astronauts who died in service to their country on February 1, 2003. The center is also a tribute to the many people who worked in the aviation and aerospace industry in Downey over seven decades.  Through its historical displays and interactive exhibits, the center is designed to inspire a new generation of space scientists and explorers.  A longtime advocate of the center, the congresswoman authored the legislation to name the center as a memorial to the fallen astronauts and secured $1 million in federal funding toward the project.

The congresswoman made the following remarks at the dedication ceremony, after which she presented Downey Mayor David Gafin with a Congressional Certificate of Recognition:

“Time has certainly flown by.  It’s difficult to believe that 19 months have passed since we broke ground for this wonderful new learning center.

In just two short months, the doors will open, and this building will be filled with excited students, ready to learn and interact with the exhibits that await them.  These students will gain valuable information and insights about space and science.

And local children will take great pride in learning about the historic contributions of their community to the space program and about neighbors and family members who worked on projects like the Apollo Capsules and Space Shuttle orbiters.

As some of you may know, the mission of the last Columbia Shuttle orbiter flight conducted several critical experiments.  The first was a new technique for measuring the ozone in our Earth’s atmosphere, which is important to our discussion on Global Warming.  A second experiment tested a new GPS receiver to assist spacecraft navigation.  And a third experiment deployed a satellite used to train international student volunteers measuring atmospheric density.

The valuable contributions of the Columbia Shuttle orbiter, and the history made on this site in support of the space program makes it is only fitting that the Columbia Memorial Space Center will be the regional resource to learn about NASA space programs.

Visitors will learn about space travel through wonderful exhibits and programs like NASA’s  “Return to the Moon,” which uses the same technology and engineering principles developed at this site.

It was my privilege to work with then-Governor Gray Davis and city officials to facilitate the transfer of this property from NASA and the federal government to the city of Downey.

It was also my privilege to work with city leaders to bring the critical federal resources needed for the center’s exhibits, among them the appropriation earmark for this center.

Throughout the last few years, it has been my great honor to represent the City of Downey in the Congress of the United States, and it was with a great sense of pride that I sponsored House Joint Resolution 57, which formally named this Center, “The Columbia Memorial Space Science Learning Center.”  The resolution, which passed the House on October 5, 2004, also memorialized the Columbia astronauts who lost their lives on February 1, 2003, and highlighted for my colleagues in Congress and the entire country, the rich space history of Downey, and all who helped realize our nation’s dream of space exploration.

While they may not be here today, I would like to acknowledge the families of the following Columbia crew members: Rick Husband; Willie McCool; Michael Anderson; Kalpana Chawla; David Brown, represented by his brother Doug Brown; Laurel Clark; and Ilan Ramon.  I know that when family members visit the Center, they will be filled with pride for what was accomplished.

On behalf of a grateful nation, I extend my sincere thanks for the sacrifices and the exceptional contributions your loved ones made to NASA’s space program.  I have no doubt that many future astronauts and scientists will say that their inspiration to study science and math and explore the wonders of space began with a visit to the Columbia Memorial Space Center in Downey.

To commemorate the dedication of this building, I would like to present this Certificate of Congressional Recognition to Mayor David Gafin. Thank you.”
 

-- ### --