[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 46 (Thursday, April 17, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H1687]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       TREMENDOUS STRIDES AT HUGHES DANBURY OPTICAL SYSTEMS, INC.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Connecticut [Mr. Maloney] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MALONEY of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great 
admiration and gratitude for the tremendous strides that have been made 
in the last 4 decades by the people of Hughes Danbury Optical Systems, 
Inc. Hughes Optical is not only a long-time employer in Connecticut's 
Fifth District, they have made enormous contributions toward our 
Nation's pioneering efforts in space. Their technological leadership 
has resulted in advanced instruments that have enabled scientists 
around the world to probe the universe and gain a better understanding 
of our cosmological origins.
  Most recently, Hughes developed and manufactured both the optical 
telescope assembly and the fine guidance sensors for NASA's Hubble 
space telescope. They have been a critical team member in the 
successful daily operations of this space observatory and the on-orbit 
servicing missions that will keep Hubble healthy and productive for 
years to come. In fact, one instrument, the first of Hubble's to be 
recycled, has been returned to Danbury this month for its 1-billion-
mile maintenance work.
  In operation for nearly 7 years and having orbited our globe over 
37,000 times, this fine guidance sensor will be refurbished and 
upgraded by the skilled engineers and technicians at Hughes Danbury 
Optical. It will then be returned to Hubble in 1999 to carry out the 
final leg of the space telescope's planned 15-year mission.
  In addition, we can confidently look forward to further achievements 
in science when NASA's advanced X-ray astrophysics facility, a 
companion observatory to the Hubble, is launched later this decade, 
also carrying optics manufactured by this dedicated group at Hughes 
Danbury Optical Systems.
  I salute all of Hughes' talented and dedicated people for giving us 
the ability to confidently enter the new high-tech millennium ahead. 
Their cutting edge contributions have played an irreplaceable role in 
making our Nation the leader in both the discovery of our universe and 
in the development of our technological achievements.

                          ____________________