[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 150 (Wednesday, December 10, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H8943]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 ``ORION''--INNOVATE, EXPLORE, DISCOVER

  (Mr. PERLMUTTER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the remarkable 
achievement of the Orion spacecraft's first test flight. The project 
represents the next frontier for NASA's deep space exploration program.
  Last Friday, December 5, Orion lifted off from Cape Canaveral, and by 
all accounts, it was a flawless mission. This test flight sent Orion 
3,604 miles above Earth, traveling at over 20,000 miles per hour.
  Orion and the Space Launch System are national priorities aimed at 
taking our astronauts to Mars and beyond. This exploration will inspire 
our Nation and capture the hearts and minds of young Americans.
  More importantly, I am proud to say Colorado played an enormous role 
in making Orion a reality. Lockheed Martin and United Launch Alliance 
facilities played a leading role in this mission.
  Other Colorado contractors that played an important role include 
Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Advanced Solutions Inc., Ball Aerospace, 
Deep Space Systems, Denver Research Institute, Erickson Metals of 
Colorado, ISYS Technologies, Red Canyon Engineering, SEAKR Engineering, 
St. Vrain Manufacturing Syzygx, Syzygx, and TTJ&B Inc.
  Orion supports thousands of jobs all around the country and is an 
engine for innovation and space exploration in our State and the 
Nation. This is something that we all can be proud of as a Nation, and 
we look forward to further space exploration.

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