HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 15-7540-Rememberance of Shuttle DisastersRESOLUTION NO. 15 -7540
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY
ESTABLISHING A TRADITION IN WHICH THE SECOND CITY COUNCIL MEETING
IN JANUARY WILL ADJOURN IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE APOLLO 1
ASTRONAUTS, THE STS -51 -L CHALLENGER SPACE SHUTTLE CREW AND THE
STS -107 COLUMBIA SPACE SHUTTLE CREW
WHEREAS, Apollo 1 was the first manned mission of the U.S. Apollo manned lunar
landing program, and the Apollo 1 crew had begun their training at the North American Rockwell
Plant in the City of Downey; and,
WHEREAS, A cabin fire during a launch rehearsal test resulted in the death of all three
crew members, Command Pilot Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, Senior Pilot Edward H. White II, and
Pilot Roger B. Chaffee on January 27, 1967; and,
WHEREAS, the Space Shuttle Challenger was the second orbiter of NASA's space
shuttle program to be put into service following Columbia. The shuttle was built by Rockwell
International's Space Transportation Systems Division in the City of Downey; and,
WHEREAS, STS-51 -L launched and broke apart on its tenth mission, resulting in the
death its seven crew members: Commander Francis R. Scobee, Pilot Michael J. Smith, Mission
Specialist Judith A. Resnick, Mission Specialist Ronald E. McNair, Mission Specialist Ellison S.
Onizuka, Payload Specialist Gregory B. Jarvis, and Teacher Sharon Christa McAuliff; and,
WHEREAS, Space Shuttle Columbia was the first space -rated Space
Shuttle in NASA's orbiter fleet, also built by Rockwell International in the City of Downey; and,
WHEREAS, the Space Shuttle Columbia had completed 27 missions over 22 years
before the crew of STS 107 disintegrated upon re- entry, resulting in the loss of Commander
Rick Husband, Pilot Willie McCool, Payload Commander Michael Anderson, Mission Specialists
Kalpana Chawla, David Brown, Laurel Clark and Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon at the end of its
28th mission on February 1, 2003; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Downey has previously honored the lost crews of Apollo 1, STS-
51 -L and STS -107 with plaques and a commemorative rose garden at the Columbia Memorial
Space Center; and,
WHEREAS, House Joint Resolution 57 named the Columbia Memorial Space Center a
National Memorial to the Columbia Space Shuttle and the Crew of STS -107.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY DOES HEREBY
RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. To establish a tradition in which the second City Council meeting in
January will adjourn in memory of the crews of Apollo 1, STS -51 -L and STS -107.
RESOLUTION NO. 15 -7539
PAGE 2
SECTION 2. The City Clerk Shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 27th day of January, 2015.
ATTEST
ADRIA M. JIMENE , CMC
City Clerk
LUIS H. MARQUEZ, ay
HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was adopted by the City Council of
the City of Downey at a regular meeting held on the 27th day of January, 2015, by the following
vote, to wit:
AYES:
Council Members:
Ashton, Brossmer, Vasquez, Saab, Mayor Marquez
NOES:
Council Member:
None.
ABSENT:
Council Member:
None.
ABSTAIN:
Council Member:
None.
.1
P,�AM. JIMENEZ, CMC
City Clerk