Tina Ellson, a member of the UAH Student Branch, wrote a poem, "Space Exploration," for her children last December. She now offers the poem in memory of the Space Shuttle Columbia Astronauts: Commander Rick D. Husband, Pilot William C. McCool, Payload Specialist Michael P. Anderson, Mission Specialist Kalpana Chawla, Mission Specialist David M. Brown, Mission Specialist Laurel B. Clark, and Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon, Israel.

Part 1

        "Sending You A World of Dreams"

A world of dreams is found in reality of splendid aura (Auroras Over Both Earth Poles)
In a mighty rare string of pearls that takes the breath away, (A String Of Pearls)
In a priceless star cluster of jewels bedazzling (The Pleiades Star Cluster)
And in energized (X-Ray Rainbows) bent near black holes

From Alaska's gasp of cold wonder (Colorful Light Pillars)

To Hawaii's warm breath of aloha (Hawaii)

In a soothing moonset (Moonset, Planet Earth)
The angels' lull of (Earth at Night)
Keep feet off the ground and fingers to the stars, the sky is not the limit

In your dreams and in your days.

Part 2

        "Daylight Has Broken"

Oh, but mere dreams (Mir Dreams)

Alas the sleeping beauty must awake (M64: The Sleeping Beauty Galaxy)

When the curtains in the sky do part (Aurora: Curtains in the Sky)

The sun also rises (The Sun Also Rises)

So shall you (Earth Rise)

To wash away bad dreams in a whirlpool (M51: The Whirlpool Galaxy)

To follow your heart like a shooting star

To sail with light beams (Moonbow with Sailboats)

On the wings of a butterfly (M2-9: Wings of a Butterfly Nebula)

And amass unspeakable glory (The Glory)

Fortunes of priceless wonder

What kingly fortunes you shall ask?

Cartwheels of fortune! (Cartwheel of Fortune)

         - By Tina Ellson