Goddard Mourns the Loss of STS-107 Crew - cont'd

	Mr. Diaz expressing his thoughts emotions before the start of the Director's Colloquium.

Mr. Diaz concluded by noting that despite this tragedy, it has provoked people to think "about why [NASA] we do what we do" and he believes, "that our resolve to continue and hopefully the resolve we need from those that support us will be galvanized to continue." Diaz encourages everyone to allow for grieving but wants everyone to go back to doing "the wonderful things that we do for the crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia, for their families, for ourselves and for our children."

	Book of condolences at Visitor Center

In addition to the NASA community being touched by the Columbia tragedy, the surrounding Goddard community feels the loss too. Many from the community have expressed their sympathy by bringing flowers, notes and letters to the entrance sign at the Center's main gate. Additionally emails have been received from many including, Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., Vice Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.) Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Marion C. Blakey, Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. A internal web site has been established for viewing such messages, to view them, visit: http://internal.gsfc.nasa.gov/columbia.html

To read the entire text of Mr. Diaz's Colloquium remarks, go to:
http://internal.gsfc.nasa.gov/directives/speeches/diaz/columbia20030204.html