As space shuttle astronauts, each of us has sat high atop a magnificent U.S.-built spaceship loaded with 725,700 kilograms of liquid hydrogen and oxygen, waiting for the shuttle’s solid-rocket motors and engines to ignite and propel us from zero to 28,000 kilometers per hour into orbit around the Earth. We understand the importance and significance of having a safe and well-funded space program, as we personally accepted the risk worth taking with every mission. With each flight, we entrusted our lives to experienced, innovative men and women on the ground, dedicated to our safety and passionately committed to our nation’s space program.