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In this "Centennial of Flight" year, it is worth noting for all the amazing progress the age of aviation and space flight has made possible, our gains have not come easily. Every step of the way, the technological breakthroughs that have enabled people to fly around the world and brave explorers to extend our horizons heavenward, were the result of hard work, perseverance, and a willingness to overcome major setbacks. On February 1, 2003, a terrible tragedy occurred when the NASA family, our Nation, and the world lost seven remarkable individuals, the heroic crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia. NASA is now working hard to return to space flight operations that are as safe as humanly possible. We are also continuing to pursue our mission goals of understanding and protecting the home planet, exploring the universe and searching for life, and inspiring the next generation of explorers. We hope our unceasing efforts to pioneer the future will provide a fitting tribute to the Columbia seven. This year, which marks NASA's 45th year of conducting aeronautics and space research and exploration missions on behalf of the American public, is also noteworthy for some important advances: * Our Expedition crews onboard the International Space Station continued to perform experiments on the orbiting facility spanning several scientific disciplines. From these experiments, scientists are: learning better methods of drug testing; developing models that predict or explain the progress of disease; investigating how to use microbes to make antibiotics; determining how to improve manufacturing processes; and studying changes in Earth climate, vegetation, and crops. * We successfully launched our twin Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, which are now en route for their January 2004 exploration of sites on the Red Planet where water may have once flowed freely. * We celebrated the Nobel Prize in Physics awarded in December 2002 to astronomer Riccardo Giacconi for his groundbr