SNOWE, COLLINS ANNOUNCE RESOLUTION TO HONOR ASTRONAUT CHRIS CASSIDY

This week, Senator Snowe and Senator Collins joined together to introduce S.Res. 222, a resolution recognizing Lieutenant Commander Chris Cassidy, space shuttle mission specialist of the STS-127 space shuttle mission special, for becoming the 500th person to fly to space. After several launch attempts were scrubbed due to mechanical issues, STS-127 rocketed into space on July 15. Although Lieutenant Commander Cassidy is a native of Salem Massachusetts, he considers York, Maine his hometown, where he attended York High School.

As our nation celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission and the first man on the moon, Lieutenant Commander Cassidy’s journey to space marks a new era, with Chris becoming the 500th person to venture beyond earth’s gravity. Indeed, his research, duties, and exploration efforts while aboard the STS-127 will prove vital to the mission, which has been tasked to deliver the final components of the Kibo laboratory of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency to the International Space Station. Snowe commended Chris for his heroic contributions and commitment to advancing science and human understanding.

Click:
http://snowe.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=ae525bcb-802a-23ad-49b8-dcbed24fa97e&Region_id=&Issue_id=
to learn more about Chris and his mission.