[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 69 (Thursday, May 16, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5204-S5205]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO ASTRONAUT RICK LINNEHAN

 Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate the 
extraordinary accomplishments of Astronaut Rick Linnehan, who will be a 
mission specialist on the space shuttle Columbia, scheduled to leave 
Cape Canaveral, FL in June.
  In 1975, Rick graduated from Pelham High School in Pelham, NH and 
proceeded to earn a bachelor of science degree in animal science and 
microbiology at the University of New Hampshire. Later, Rick denied his 
acceptance to the U.S. Air Force for pilot training and instead opted 
to attend the Ohio State University College of Medicine to earn his 
veterinary degree. While Rick's heartening desire to fly was 
temporarily delayed, his dream never died. Upon finishing his 
veterinary degree in 1985, Rick applied for NASA's astronaut training 
program. With the 1986 Challenger disaster stalling the program, Rick's 
dream of space flight was once again put on hold. During this time, 
Rick worked as a veterinarian before joining an internship with the 
Baltimore Zoo and Johns Hopkins University from 1986 to 1988. He then 
joined the military as a captain in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps, and 
ended up as chief clinical veterinarian with the Navy's Marine Mammal 
project in San Diego, CA.
  Despite Rick's success in his field of study, he still held on to his 
dream of one day becoming an astronaut. In 1991, Rick again applied for 
the astronaut program and was selected along with 18 others out of 
nearly 3,000 applicants.
  After 4 years of dedicated training, Rick will embark on his first 
journey into space this summer as a crewmember of NASA's Life Sciences 
and Micro-gravity Spacelab mission. During the 16-day flight, Rick will 
be part of a medical team that will be checking fellow crewmembers for 
the effects of prolonged space flight as part of NASA's testing program 
for the space station.
  In memory of another New Hampshire astronaut, Christa McAuliffe,

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Rick will carry a lapel pin with him into space from the Concord 
planetarium. Rick will also bring a New Hampshire flag from the State 
Legislature, which will be returned to fly in our State House, as well 
as a banner for the University of New Hampshire, and some personal 
items for relatives and friends.
  New Hampshire is very proud of Rick's extraordinary commitment and 
hard work to achieve his boyhood dream of space flight. America needs 
more visionaries like Rick, who not only hold on to their dreams but 
work hard to achieve them. I congratulate Rick on this outstanding 
honor and am proud to have him represent us in the final 
frontier.

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