[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 104 (Wednesday, July 27, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1636]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              NASA LAUNCH

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM DeLAY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 27, 2005

  Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, yesterday at 10:39 a.m. on the east coast, 
five men and two women were launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, 
aboard the space shuttle Discovery, rocketing into low-earth orbit at 
17,000 miles per hour. . . another small step for man, another giant 
leap for mankind.
  Yesterday's successful launch will not simply pick up where America 
left off two years ago after the Columbia disaster.
  Yesterday's launch instead opens a new era of space exploration--an 
era defined by President Bush's ambitious new vision and made possible 
by the courage and brilliance of the men and women of NASA.
  Every resource of our space program will be dedicated to this new 
mission:
  The shuttle has returned to flight and will work to complete the 
International Space Station now orbiting the earth 250 miles above our 
heads;
  Scientists and astronauts aboard the station will conduct 
unprecedented research on the long-term exposure of human beings to 
micro-gravity and radiation, to test our endurance for prolonged space-
travel;
  Meanwhile, here on earth, engineers and scientists will design a new 
crew exploration vehicle that will eventually replace the shuttle and 
take mankind back to the moon, where more historic discovery and 
science can be pursued.
  All of these endeavors will lead our space program toward our next 
giant leap--a manned mission to Mars.
  The first step of that journey was taken yesterday morning, Mr. 
Speaker, and once again, NASA's army of geniuses has set us on a clear 
path toward our destiny.
  I spoke with mission Commander Eileen Collins a few weeks back, and 
she said her crew was ready and eager to return the shuttle to flight.
  I also spoke with NASA Administrator Mike Griffin today, to 
congratulate him and the entire NASA team on a successful launch, as 
well as to commend him on an incredible first 3-plus months on the job.
  The country is lucky to have a man like him in public service heading 
up the finest space agency in the world.
  Yesterday, Americans learned once again that we have the resources 
and the personnel to do the impossible, Mr. Speaker.
  I commend every member of our space community for keeping the 
Discovery crew's appointment with history, and while we wait for their 
safe return next week, our hopes and prayers are with them all.

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