Cheyenne, OK – Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03), Ranking Member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, released a statement today congratulating NASA and SpaceX on the successful launch of the Crew Dragon Capsule on the Demo-2 mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

“Today marks a new era in space travel,” Lucas said. “It’s been nearly ten years since we last launched American astronauts from American soil on an American rocket. The successful launch today is the culmination of years of hard work and commitment through NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. It’s confirmation that, working closely with NASA, private industry can provide safe and cost-effective transportation to low-Earth orbit. That opens up a world of opportunities, including expanded research on the ISS. And it gives us the ability to focus on the next phase of American space exploration: returning humans to the Moon and venturing on to Mars. I wish Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley the best of luck on this mission, and I thank all the dedicated employees at NASA and SpaceX that made this possible. And I thank all those involved in prioritizing the crew’s well-being by waiting until conditions were right for a safe launch. I’m proud to continue working with President Trump, Vice President Pence, and their Administration on their bold vision for American leadership in space.”

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