[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 157 (Wednesday, October 17, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2167]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    COMMENDING NASA LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER ON ITS 90TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                     HON. ROBERT C. ``BOBBY'' SCOTT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 16, 2007

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of 
House Concurrent Resolution 222, which honors the NASA Langley Research 
Center on its 90th Anniversary. Started in 1917 as the nation's first 
aeronautical research laboratory, NASA Langley has become a world 
leader in aeronautics research and has led the charge in developing 
technology to improve the field of aeronautics. NASA Langley has worked 
to improve aircraft landing systems, the shape of aircraft wings, and 
the safety of hypersonic flight. NASA Langley also tests the 
configuration of many commercial and military aircraft models in its 
unique wind tunnel system. Finally, the Center is conducting work to 
enable pilots to better land in bad weather through the use of 
satellite and global positioning information. These improvements have 
led and will continue to lead to critical advances in both commercial 
and military aircraft. The increased safety resulting from these 
advances benefits us all.
  NASA Langley has also played a key role in furthering space 
exploration. From the first manned space exploration mission to sending 
landers and rovers to Mars, NASA Langley has made significant 
contributions to make these journeys possible. NASA Langley trained the 
original seven astronauts who flew with the Mercury 7 mission--the 
first national manned space flight. The Center also led the Viking 
mission to Mars--the first successful U.S. to that planet. After the 
Columbia shuttle tragedy in 2003, NASA Langley performed critical work 
to determine how to return shuttles safely to space, including 
conducing research in aero-thermodynamics and structures and materials 
used in space shuttle technology. These missions have helped to keep 
the U.S. at the forefront of space exploration.
  NASA Langley is also doing its part to get the next generation 
prepared and excited about working for NASA. Through its education 
programs, NASA reaches out to students to get them involved and excited 
about the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (or 
STEM).
  I would like to thank NASA for its continued recognition of NASA 
Langley as a viable, thriving part of the NASA community. I would also 
like to thank the individuals who have worked and who are currently 
working at NASA Langley for their sustained efforts in making the 
Center a world leader in the aeronautics and space exploration fields. 
Finally, I would like to recognize the leadership of my former 
colleague, the late Representative Jo Ann Davis, on this resolution. 
Congresswoman Davis was a tireless champion for NASA Langley and will 
certainly be missed. It is my hope that the Virginia delegation can 
continue this strong support for NASA Langley and look forward to more 
anniversaries to come.

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