[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 38 (Thursday, March 30, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E452]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         IN RECOGNITION OF THE NASA-GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 29, 2000

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the men and 
women of the NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD, and 
congratulate them on their continued success as one of our Nation's 
premier space flight centers. In December, Goddard led a successful 
mission to service the Hubble space telescope and launched the Terra 
spacecraft, the first of an exciting line of satellites based at 
Goddard.
  During the 1999 holiday season, the Hubble was given new navigation 
equipment and an improved vision of the universe. During an 8-day 
mission, beginning on December 19, the crew of the space shuttle 
Discovery captured, serviced, and redeployed the Hubble space 
telescope. On Christmas day it was released back into orbit, returning 
it to full operation with a new and improved view of the universe.
  Through these improvements, Hubble scientists, for the first time in 
its 10-year history, have identified and impelemented a value 
measurement for how fast the universe is expanding. This rate of 
expansion--the Hubble constant--is essential in determining the age and 
size of the universe.
  In addition to the great accomplishments with the Hubble, on December 
18, the first Earth-observing system satellite was successfully 
launched. This system, known as Terra is operating as expected and will 
enable new research into the ways Earth's land mass, oceans, air, ice, 
and life interact as a whole climate.
  Since 1993, NASA has cut the cost of missions by two-thirds and has 
cut the time it takes to develop spacecraft by 40 percent. NASA is also 
launching an average of four times as many science missions per year.
  The great successes of Goddard Space Flight Center would not be 
possible without the outstanding support that has been provided by the 
contracting and business community of this region. Their efforts, in 
partnership with NASA, have been critical in placing Goddard in the 
forefront of space technology and giving the United States the 
recognition of being number one in space exploration and know-how.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, as we enter the new millennium, let us 
continue to support the men and women leading us onto the new frontier 
of space exploration. These men and women of the Goddard Space Flight 
Center are furthering our knowledge of the planet and the universe by 
which we are surrounded. I thank the astronomers, scientists, and the 
entire space exploration community for a job well done.

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