[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 29 (Tuesday, February 14, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H1694-H1695]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   SPACE SHUTTLE COMPLETES SUCCESSFUL MISSION WITH FIRST WOMAN PILOT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 4, 1995, the gentlewoman from Maryland [Mrs. Morella] is 
recognized during morning business for 3 minutes.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, this past week, parts of our country could 
gaze proudly upon the stars and see the outlines of space shuttle 
Discovery's historic 37-feet fly-by rendezvous with Russia's MIR space 
station. This shuttle mission, which was completed on Saturday, was 
historic not just because it was a dress rehearsal for the shuttle-MIR 
docking in June but also because it contained a number of firsts.
  Discovery's mission not only paved the way for the first of seven 
shuttle flights to dock with MIR, but its crew of six included Air 
Force Lt. Col. Eileen Collins, the first woman ever assigned to pilot a 
shuttle, and Dr. Bernard Harris, the first African-American astronaut 
ever assigned to a spacewalk.
  Ever since Sally Ride lifted off and became the first American woman 
in space, our space shuttles routinely have carried female crew members 
to perform research, spacewalks, repairs, and other functions. Nineteen 
other women, before Eileen Collins aboard Discovery, had flown on 
shuttles but none had ever piloted the spacecraft.
  To commemorate this historic event, dozens of female pilots converged 
at Kennedy Space Center to watch Lieutenant Colonel Collins' launch. 
Inspired by the civilian women Air Force pilots who delivered planes to 
airfields during World War II, Lieutenant Colonel Collins made a point 
of inviting them as living examples of how far women and our Nation's 
aeronautics and space program have come.
  To honor the role models who inspired her career, Lieutenant Colonel 
Collins carried with her a scarf worn by 
[[Page H1695]] Amelia Earhart and insignia wings worn by women pilots 
in World War II. To honor her efforts, her predecessors, and her 
colleagues aboard Discovery, we will all be carrying with us our 
country's pride for their job well done.


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