[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 26, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E322]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   THE SUCCESSFUL SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION TO SERVICE THE HUBBLE SPACE 
                               TELESCOPE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 26, 1997

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate NASA, 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the space 
shuttle crew on the successful completion of its 82d space shuttle 
flight. The space shuttle crew landed perfectly on Friday morning at 
the Kennedy Space Center in Florida from their rendezvous with the 
Hubble space telescope.
  The crew performed five exhaustive extra-vehicular activities, or 
space walks, to service Hubble. Their objective was to upgrade the 
Hubble's scientific capabilities, repair and replace faulty or degraded 
equipment and provide a reboost of its orbit.
  The space walking astronaut teams rejuvenated the Hubble space 
telescope, which increased its usefulness to the scientific community, 
the people of the United States and the world.
  I must note that this was a perfect precursor of the skills and 
abilities that will be required to assemble the international space 
station. Critics of the space station who are skeptical of the ability 
of NASA to construct the complex assembly need only to have tuned in 
with the rest of the world to witness the precise, exact, detailed work 
done by our crew this past week on the Hubble telescope.
  I encourage my colleagues to join me in extending congratulations to 
the Discovery crew of Commander Ken Bowersox, pilot Scot Horowitz, and 
missions specialists Joe Tanner, Steve Hawley, Greg Harbaugh, Mark Lee 
and Steve Smith.
  These brave and talented astronauts, along with the entire NASA 
launch and mission support teams, exemplify the finest characteristics 
of American know-how, determination and can-do spirit.

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