A loss for us all.

I grew up with the space program. I remember when Sputnik was big news. I pasted clippings of Alan Shepard's and John Glenn's adventures into a scrapbook. I semi-patiently squinted into the night sky to catch a glimpse of "Echo" passing overhead. My uncle took me to see the Apollo 11 launch--from a distance--and later we watched black-and-white TV images of the first footstep on the Moon. A few months later, I attended a science briefing given by the Apollo 11 astronauts for high school students.

By the fourth or fifth mission to the Moon, however, America's interest in the space program was fading. These days it takes a Tom Hanks movie, a PBS anniversary special, the first launch of the Space Shuttle, or some other event to refresh our memories, spark our interest, and fire our imagination for a time. Unfortunately, the latest event to draw our attention was the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia and its STS-107 crew of seven.

"Like you, I was stunned by the news from this past weekend of yet another national disaster," said International Paper's Chairman and CEO John Dillon in a memo to employees. "It is extremely difficult to reconcile how so many bright, capable, and courageous men and women with so much to offer could be taken from us." He was struck by the genuine expression of concern and support from leaders and citizens worldwide, reflecting "the high regard for the seven individuals who gave their lives for science and space exploration."

Dillon noted that IP "has a number of facilities and owns forestlands in the area where the shuttle came down. Almost immediately after news of the tragedy became known, International Paper employees were making maps and equipment available and volunteering to help in the search." Several IP teams were working with NASA and other government agencies to successfully locate a number of pieces of debris on IP land.

U.S. President George W. Bush, in remarks at the memorial service for the Columbia astronauts, asserted that "America's space program will go on." To continue the journey will require commitment, however, and a belief that we will benefit in spite of the costs and perils.

One of the experiments planned for this year could directly benefit the forest products industries. As the next step in a series of studies of plant gene expression and biosynthesis, samples of loblolly pine were to be flown on the shuttle for experiments on the International Space Station. IP, Weyerhaeuser, UPM-Kymmene, and Plum Creek Timber Company (Georgia-Pacific) had committed to the research effort, which could reduce the lignin content of pulp wood.

That and other experiments will be delayed as NASA tries to determine the likely cause of Columbia's break-up and takes steps to enhance the safety of future shuttle missions. We wish them well in both efforts.

BIOENGINEERING AND MOON TREES

* Explore BioServe's web site for information on the plant biology experiments, www.colorado.edu/engineering/BioServe/

* Learn about the Apollo 14 "Moon Trees" at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2002/13aug_moontrees.htm

DONALD G. MEADOWS Senior Editor

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