Jim Sensenbrenner: “Mr. Speaker, last Tuesday evening, Space Shuttle Columbia touched down at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral…”

“Mr. Speaker, last Tuesday evening, Space Shuttle Columbia touched down at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The crew of Space Shuttle Columbia completed an important mission. A few short hours after launch, shuttle mission STS-93 successfully deployed the Chandra X-ray Observatory. With the launch of Chandra, we begin to explore the universe in new and exciting ways. Chandra will allow us to examine the hot, turbulent regions in space with images nearly 25 times sharper than previous X-ray pictures. The scientific promises that Chandra holds are far reaching and will have a significant impact on our understanding of how our universe operates. Yet beyond the scientific accomplishments of the recent shuttle mission, we rise today to celebrate a new turning point in history. STS-93 is the first-ever shuttle mission commanded by a woman, U.S. Air Force Colonel Eileen Collins. Colonel Collins has downplayed her role as the first female space shuttle commander. In her mind, she is just another astronaut, not unlike her male predecessors, who has worked hard and has been bestowed the great honor of commanding a U.S. space shuttle into space. In reality, Colonel Collins has emerged as a role model for all young women who aspire to one day follow in her footsteps or to pursue careers in other scientific fields.”