With Atlantis Home, Sandy Adams Reflects on Space Shuttle Program

With the Atlantis back on Earth, Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Sandy Adams, who represents parts of the Space Coast in Congress, offered some reflections on the space shuttle program on Thursday morning. The concluded Atlantis mission marked the end of the program which NASA has been running for more than three decades.

It is with great sadness and pride that I watched space shuttle Atlantis land today, marking the end of an era that has so greatly defined Floridas Space Coast for 30 years, said Adams.Since the very first launch of space shuttle Columbia to todays final mission, the Space Coast and the hard-working men and women of Florida have been there all along making history. Children along the Space Coast have grown up watching shuttle launches from their porches and beachfronts with a sense of pride and awe. NASAs 30-year space shuttle program has been more than just space exploration to Florida families; its part of their history, its their livelihoods, and its been a source of inspiration for the tens of thousands of people who have supported its operations and have made their homes in our great state.

As we close the door to this chapter in Florida and in the nations history, we must look forward to the future of our Space Coast and the future of space exploration, added Adams.I was elated when NASA selected Floridas Center for the Advancement of Science in Space Inc. to develop and manage the non-NASA scientific research on the U.S. portion of the International Space Station. This $15 million annual investment will help create much-needed jobs here on the Space Coast. I am hopeful that as we move forward as a nation, Congress and this administration will continue to properly prioritize NASA funding and find ways to utilize the existing infrastructure, the skill set, and a work force who have played such a vital role in defining America as the leader in space exploration.

Moving forward, we must not lose sight of Americas contributions to space, and we must continue fighting to keep our great nation the leader in space exploration, said Adams in conclusion. I welcome home Atlantis and I am so proud of the hard-working men and women in Florida who have helped define our shuttle program as an American flagship and a symbol of strength for the country we love.