[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 4, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1756]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             COMMEMORATING SHUTTLE COMMANDER CHRIS FERGUSON

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. MICHAEL G. FITZPATRICK

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 4, 2011

  Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, today the Franklin Institute of 
Philadelphia and the NASTAR Foundation will kick off World Space Week 
by welcoming Shuttle Commander Chris Ferguson, who led the final U.S. 
shuttle mission to the International Space Station. When the shuttle 
returned on July 20th, it marked the end of a 30-year NASA program. 
Ferguson's mission, the 33rd flight of Atlantis, was the 37th shuttle 
mission to the space station, and the 135th and final mission of NASA's 
Space Shuttle Program.
  Commander Ferguson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and his 
mother Mary Ann and stepfather Norman now reside in Langhorne, Bucks 
County. Ferguson graduated from Archbishop Ryan High School in 
Philadelphia, and received his Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical 
engineering from Drexel University. Ferguson also received a master of 
science in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School 
in 1991.
  In 1986, Ferguson earned his Navy Wings and was ordered to the F-14 
Tomcat training squadron in Virginia Beach, VA. Later, he joined the 
``Red Rippers'' of VF-11, deploying to the North Atlantic, 
Mediterranean and Indian oceans onboard the USS Forrestal. In 1995, he 
joined the ``Checkmates'' of VF-211, completing a deployment to the 
Western Pacific and Persian Gulf in defense of the Iraqi no-fly zone on 
board the USS Nimitz. Throughout his military career, Ferguson has 
earned many commendations, including the Legion of Merit, Distinguished 
Flying Cross, and Navy Strike-Flight Air Medal.
  In 1998, Ferguson reported to the Johnson Space Center. He served as 
spacecraft communicator for the STS-118, 120, 128 and 129 missions. 
Ferguson was also the pilot of STS-115, and commanded STS-126 and 135. 
In September 2010, he began training with a crew of four for a rescue 
mission that evolved into STS-135, a station cargo delivery flight that 
carried the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module ``Raffaello.'' Being the 
final flight of Space Shuttle Atlantis, Commander Chris Ferguson 
requested that a stainless steel star cut from an original panel of the 
Fels Planetarium dome at the Franklin Institute be flown into space 
aboard the STS-135. Today, the star returns with Commander Ferguson, 
and will be placed on display at the Franklin Institute, for all to 
see.
  Commander Ferguson is a decorated military officer, and a 
distinguished son of Pennsylvania. The 8th District of Pennsylvania and 
I are proud to honor him this week.

                          ____________________