Statement by John P. Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, On Launch of Falcon 9 Rocket and Dragon Spacecraft

May 22, 2012

David Weaver
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1898
david.s.weaver@nasa.gov

Phil Larson
Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President
202-456-6043
plarson@ostp.eop.gov

RELEASE: 12-164

STATEMENT BY JOHN P. HOLDREN, ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, ON LAUNCH OF FALCON 9 ROCKET AND DRAGON SPACECRAFT

WASHINGTON -- Following Tuesday's launch of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket
and Dragon spacecraft, John P. Holdren, Assistant to the President
for Science and Technology, issued the following statement:

"Congratulations to the teams at SpaceX and NASA for this morning's
successful launch of the Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air
Force Station in Florida. Every launch into space is a thrilling
event, but this one is especially exciting because it represents the
potential of a new era in American spaceflight. Partnering with U.S.
companies such as SpaceX to provide cargo and eventually crew service
to the International Space Station is a cornerstone of the
president's plan for maintaining America's leadership in space. This
expanded role for the private sector will free up more of NASA's
resources to do what NASA does best -- tackle the most demanding
technological challenges in space, including those of human space
flight beyond low Earth orbit. I could not be more proud of our NASA
and SpaceX scientists and engineers, and I look forward to following
this and many more missions like it."

For more information on the SpaceX flight, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/spacex


For more information on the Office of Science and Technology Policy,
visit:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ostp


-end-



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