Hall attends space shuttle launch
Saturday, November 22, 2008 12:36 PM CST
On Friday November 14, Congressman Ralph Hall attended the successful launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavour for its mission to service the International Space Station.
"America's continued commitment to manned spaceflight will keep us ahead of our international competition and keep high tech jobs here in the U.S.," Hall said.
"Being in Florida's space coast and witnessing a Shuttle launch always makes me very proud to live in a country that puts so much emphasis on space exploration, scientific research and discovery. There is no doubt that challenges lie ahead in the next few years for NASA, but I know that both in Congress and at NASA, we will meet those challenges head on."
The Shuttle was launched for a 15-day mission to orbit the space station and increase the station's living space to accommodate an additional three astronauts. The population on board the space station is to grow to six next spring, from the current three.
Further, there are four space walks scheduled, focusing on the station's two Solar Alpha Rotary Joints, which allow the solar panels to track the sun.
At the Cape Canaveral pre-launch briefing, Congressman Hall was introduced by NASA Administrator Michael Griffin, acknowledging Hall's long-time support for America's space agency, and thanking him for being a friend of NASA.
Hall has the unique distinction of serving as Chairman of the Space Subcommittee as a Democrat in the 1990s and as Ranking Member of the Full Committee both as a Democrat and a Republican after the turn of the century.
Congressman Hall has been a fervent supporter of NASA's manned spaceflight program, and will continue to make NASA a priority and work with the next Administration to make sure the U.S. remains the world leader in manned space exploration.
Hall discussed the November 14th launch with Neil Armstrong, the first person in the World to walk on the moon.
He is visited with Buzz Aldrin, the second American on the moon and a recent house guest of Hall in Rockwall.
Both astronauts stressed the importance of space travel and the International Space Station to our nation's medical research and national defense.
