Sen. Landrieu Cheers the Launch of Shuttle Discovery
Highlights important New Orleans role in shuttle's success.
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., today cheered the entire National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) team and the crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery on the shuttle's successful launch this morning.
"This is the beginning of a new era of space exploration," said Sen. Landrieu. "We are on the cusp of developing new spaceflight vehicles that will improve the effectiveness and safety of future missions, and I am confident the New Orleans area and the entire state of Louisiana will continue to make significant contributions to this effort.
"I am very thankful and appreciative of Discovery's seven crew members and their families for their pioneering spirit and service to our space program. Just as Lewis and Clark ventured into the unknown waters of the Mississippi, these dedicated individuals are bravely breaking the surly bonds of earth to continue our nation's tradition of discovery and leadership in space exploration.
"As President Kennedy said when launching the space program, 'We possess all the resources and all the talents necessary.' Many of those talents and resources exist right here in New Orleans east and all along the Gulf Coast.
"It is truly an honor to have the Michoud operations call New Orleans home. Our workers have built crucial elements for the success of this mission, as they have for many others. I look forward to continuing to work with Michoud as they further grow in their important role as part of our nation's space program."
The Lockheed Martin Space Shuttle Company, Michoud Operations, is located in New Orleans. The primary product for the Michoud Assembly Facility is the space shuttle's External Tank. Lockheed Martin will continue to assemble External Tanks through 2006 and it is currently competing to build the new crew exploration vehicle (CEV) to be used in future space exploration missions.
The Discovery mission, STS-114, is to travel to the International Space Station to test and evaluate new safety procedures. This is the first NASA shuttle launch since the tragic breakup of the Columbia Space Shuttle in 2003.
http://landrieu.senate.gov/~landrieu/releases/05/2005726C12.html