Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard joins Downey community leaders at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Columbia Space Science Learning Center. Located on a 13-acre site of the former Rockwell International plant, the 18,000-square-foot facility will honor the memory of the Columbia Space Shuttle astronauts who died in service to their country. The center is slated for completion on February 1, 2008, the fifth anniversary of the tragedy. The center will also pay tribute to the many people who worked in the aviation and aerospace industry in Downey over seven decades.

The center’s leaders have a major educational goal: to enhance space science knowledge and scientific literacy. The center will include active learning experiences that will educate students on various aspects of aerospace, including the Challenger Learning Center, which will feature a simulated space mission that will test the participant’s decision-making skills. Historical displays will tell the stories of the men and women who contributed to the spirit of invention and innovation that led to the development of the aviation and aerospace industry in Downey, Southern California, and propelled the United States to a leadership role in space exploration. The center will also include a Space Science Discovery Zone where visitors will find a variety of interactive exhibits that help them explore principles of flight, living in space, the search for life beyond earth, and the origins of the universe. The Mars Robotics Lab will allow young visitors the opportunity to design and program their own robots in order to complete a remote exploration mission to the planet Mars.

Noting the event’s significance, the congresswoman said, “The groundbreaking for the Columbia Memorial Space Science Learning Center is another significant step toward fulfilling a dream for the City of Downey,” said Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34), who represents Downey and authored legislation in 2004 to name the center as a memorial to the seven Space Shuttle Columbia astronauts.  “Thanks to the tremendous vision of many community leaders, including former Congressman Steve Horn, the center will provide a fitting tribute to the Columbia astronauts. The learning center will also celebrate the legacy of the many local employees who helped to build the shuttle fleet at the former Rockwell International plant by educating future generations about our country’s historic advances in space exploration.”

Below is the full text of the remarks made by Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) at the April 14 ceremony:

“This is a truly historic and exciting day for the City of Downey. I am honored and proud to be here to celebrate the groundbreaking for the Columbia Memorial Space Science Learning Center with Mayor Rick Trejo; Mr. Nato Flores, President of Tower General Contractors; and Dr. Jonathan Clark, husband of Columbia astronaut Laurel Blair Salton Clark.

This marvelous center will honor our brave Columbia astronauts who paid the ultimate price in the quest to explore space. I particularly thank Dr. Clark for joining us this morning—it means a great deal to all of us to have you here for this special occasion.

Today, as we join together to recognize Downey’s historic role in the nation’s space program, we also move a step closer to creating a learning center that will inspire a new generation of space scientists and explorers.
As I said on the floor of the House of Representatives in 2004, on the day Congress approved my legislation naming the center in honor of the Columbia astronauts, “There is no city more appropriate than Downey to build this learning facility.”

So many of Downey’s residents, relatives and close friends, were a part of the space program with many playing a key role in the engineering or building of the Apollo and our shuttle fleet. Without a doubt America’s space program runs through the fabric of this community. In the decade since the shuttle program ended, local efforts to transition this manufacturing site to other uses have been underway. Throughout this effort, commemorating Downey’s historic role in the space program has been a key element of the conversion plans. The Columbia Memorial Space Science Learning Center will preserve this important part of Downey’s history.

In addition, it will play an important role in encouraging young people in the Greater Los Angeles region to consider a future in space exploration. Downey’s Learning Center will inspire our youth to become the future astronauts, scientists, engineers and visionaries who will explore the world beyond our planet.

To Dr. Clark and all the families of the Columbia astronauts, thank you for being here today and for helping to continue the legacy of courage and vision that have made our nation’s space program great. We all look forward to the summer of 2008, and the grand opening of an exciting new chapter in Downey’s space history. Breaking ground on this exciting project is a wonderful way to usher in the next 50 years. Thank you and congratulations to Downey.”
 

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