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10 Feb 2003

          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.  (Or link to it 
on web pages, mention in weblogs, postings, all of the above...)
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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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SFWA is a writers' organization for professional science fiction and
fantasy writers.

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