Olson Statement on Shuttle Orbiter Decision

Rep. Pete Olson (R-Sugar Land) today expressed disappointment at the announcement by NASA Administrator Charles Bolden that Houston was not selected as a permanent home to one of the retiring shuttle orbiters:

“Disappointment doesn’t begin to describe my reaction to this announcement. Houston has been a critical component of every aspect of the shuttle program. Every astronaut that has flown in a shuttle has called Houston home. The men and women who launch and land every shuttle flight have earned the right to call one of the retired orbiters home. This oversight smacks of a political gesture in an agency that has always served above politics. Having said that, Houston and the amazing people who work at the Johnson Space Center have always risen to every challenge presented to them and this is no exception.

“While Houston deserves the honor of a shuttle orbiter, the bigger priority is ensuring a strong human space flight program centered at Johnson Space Center. I remain committed to providing NASA with a strong human space flight program. This is an issue near and dear to my heart. We were successful last year in gutting President Obama’s plans to kill Constellation and NASA’s role in human space exploration and we will continue to fight for Congress to provide a clear mission that is fully funded allowing American exceptionalism to flourish through the hard work of everyone at the Johnson Space Center and NASA.”d, and I am sure that our highly skilled workforce will go on to lead America’s next exploration program.”