[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 118 (Friday, June 26, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E575]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     COMMEMORATING NASA WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITY'S 75TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELAINE G. LURIA

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 26, 2020

  Mrs. LURIA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize the 
75th anniversary of the first launch at NASA Wallops Flight Facility.
  As the only Member of Congress to represent two NASA facilities, I am 
honored to share with Congress this historic achievement. The Wallops 
Flight Facility, established in 1945 by the National Advisory Committee 
for Aeronautics, NASA's predecessor, has supported government and 
commercial scientific discovery and exploration missions, contributed 
significantly to the Eastern Shore community, and expedited our 
nation's technological advancements. Wallops employs over 1,000 
individuals and is home to NASA's only owned rocket launch range for 
suborbital and orbital rockets. During its creation, Wallops Island was 
sought out by the scientific agency for multiple reasons, including its 
proximity to another NASA facility and a military base. Wallops was 
established initially for guided missile flight research, but since 
then has expanded to a diverse and multifaceted mission. On June 27, 
1945, the original team launched its first test for the radar systems 
on their small rockets. While the first launch at Wallops consisted of 
very few resources and technology, this kickstarted an enduring and 
critical NASA facility. From that day, NASA Wallops continued to grow, 
and now the facility is worth over $1 billion.
  Wallops has undertaken a multitude of missions, such as supporting 
aircraft research, launching rockets and scientific balloons, and 
enabling critical research aboard the International Space Station, 
which have improved our nation's understanding of space and beyond. 
NASA Wallops has led our country and the world in providing flight and 
launch range services and more generally meeting the needs in the 
science, aerospace, defense, and commercial industries. I am honored to 
recognize the hard-working men and women at NASA Wallops and to 
commemorate this important day in history.

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