[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 25 (Thursday, February 25, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E257]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


           HONORING KATHRYN ``KAY'' HIRE, MOBILE'S ASTRONAUT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 25, 2010

  Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, on Sunday night, the six-member crew of 
the Space Shuttle Endeavor returned to the Kennedy Space Center in 
Florida after 14 days in Earth orbit. Aboard the STS-130 was Mission 
Specialist Kathryn ``Kay'' Hire, Mobile, Alabama's first astronaut.
  A native of Mobile and a 1977 graduate of Murphy High School, Kay 
Hire epitomizes the ideal of service to her country. A 1981 graduate of 
the U.S. Naval Academy, Hire earned a Master of Science degree in space 
technology from the Florida Institute of Technology in 1991 while also 
serving as a Naval officer.
  Over her military career, Hire has taken part in a wide range of 
missions, from oceanographic research to naval flight instructor. In 
1993, she was the first female in the U.S. military to be assigned to a 
combat aircrew when she flew aboard a P-3 maritime patrol aircraft, 
taking part in Atlantic and Caribbean operations. She was recalled to 
active naval duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and 
Operation Iraqi Freedom as a member of the U.S. Naval Central Command 
staff. She later returned to reserve status and served as Commanding 
Officer of the Navy Reserve Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command.
  She transferred her duties to NASA in 1989. She was selected for 
astronaut training in 1994, reporting to the Johnson Space Center in 
Houston. In 1998, she first entered space aboard the Space Shuttle 
Columbia on mission STS-90, logging over 381 hours above the Earth. 
Aboard the Columbia, Hire spent 16 days in space and took part in 26 
life science experiments focusing on the effects of microgravity on the 
brain and nervous system.
  While on the just-completed Endeavor Mission, Hire traveled to the 
International Space Station where the ISS and Endeavor crew took part 
in the final major construction project for the orbiting space 
station--the installation of the ``Tranquility'' module. The new 
addition to the space station will house life support systems for the 
ISS and offers a breathtaking seven-pane ``bay window'' in space view 
of planet Earth.
  Madam Speaker, I join the people of South Alabama in welcoming Kay 
Hire back down to Earth, and in expressing our pride for her service in 
our military and space programs. She is a tremendous role model for our 
youth. For those who seek examples of real heroes in our society, one 
need not look any further than Kay Hire, Mobile's astronaut.

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