[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 12, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2375-S2376]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO KAREN NYBERG

  Mr. CRAMER. Madam President, I want to honor a remarkable woman who 
has retired after three decades at the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration. In her 30 years at NASA, Karen Nyberg spent 20 of them 
as an astronaut, including 180 days in space on two spaceflights.
  Along with other Americans, I enjoyed following her space shuttle 
mission in 2008 and the International Space Station's 6-month 
expedition in

[[Page S2376]]

2013. During her space shuttle mission, she became the 50th woman in 
space. While on the International Space Station, she shared unique 
personal messages, including videos on how to wash hair in space, make 
a stuffed animal, and work on a quilt. I have since become acquainted 
with her as an alumna of the University of North Dakota, where she 
earned a mechanical engineering degree in 1994. A native of Vining, MN, 
she is one of 11 NASA astronauts who have ties to the Dakotas and 
Minnesota.
  Karen has given back to her alma mater, where she has served on the 
foundation board of the UND School of Aerospace Sciences. There 
students from across the globe in the Department of Space Studies learn 
about cutting-edge technologies and scientific breakthroughs in space 
exploration. Their coursework includes studying future space trips, 
including a mission to Mars.
  Last July, our Nation observed the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 
mission to the Moon. I recall as an 8-year-old watching history unfold 
on our black-and-white television, joining millions around the world in 
the exhilaration of this technological feat.
  In the half-century since the first moon landing, space exploration 
has had phenomnal impact on the world, which I believe is 
underappreciated by the average citizen. Karen's contributions to space 
exploration during 30 of those years have added to our greater 
understanding of our world and universe.
  There is a bright future for America to lead the world with 
commercial, technological, and military space missions. The work of 
astronauts like Karen and the future impact of current students at 
institutions like the University of North Dakota inspire us to move 
forward with these vital endeavors.
  On behalf of all North Dakotans, I send my sincere congratulations to 
Karen Nyberg on her distinguished career at NASA and for all she has 
brought to this new frontier.
  Best wishes on your well-earned retirement, Karen, and I hope our 
paths will cross often. We will join in wishing godspeed at the end of 
this month to your husband, Doug Hurley, and his space shuttle crew on 
their historic flight from Florida to the International Space Station.

                          ____________________