Ranking Member Johnson Congratulates NASA on Successful Shuttle Launch
Earlier today, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) successfully launched its final Space Shuttle flight. Space Shuttle Atlantis has now flown 33 times and traveled 124 million miles since its maiden flight in October 1985. Commenting on today’s launch, Committee Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) congratulated NASA and the Shuttle team, and wished Atlantis’s crew a safe and successful mission. She also reflected on the Space Shuttle’s three decades of accomplishments. Congresswoman Johnson stated “Today’s launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis is a significant milestone in America’s space program. Over the past 30 years, the Space Shuttle assisted in building the International Space Station, launched and serviced the Hubble Space Telescope, and produced numerous scientific successes and breakthroughs. This record of achievement would not have been possible without the sustained commitment and dedication of thousands of NASA and contractor employees.” Looking to the future, Congresswoman Johnson added “In addition to being an engineering marvel, the Space Shuttle has played a unique role in sparking interest in the fields of science, technology, and engineering. We must continue to provide our children and grandchildren with that kind of inspiration in the future. As the Space Shuttle era comes to a close, we can best honor its legacy by maintaining our commitment to a strong and vibrant human space flight program through productive utilization of the International Space Station and expeditious development of the crewed spacecraft and launch vehicles NASA will need to once again travel beyond low-Earth orbit.”
Next Article Previous Article