by Mark Silva
Ground control to Commander Altman.
The president's on the line.
President Barack Obama made a long-distance call to the crew of Space Shuttle Atlantis today to congratulate them on repairs to the Hubble Space Telescope. The shuttle commander made an attempt at seeing if he could pry loose the name of the next NASA commander from the commander-in-chief.
Seated at his desk in the Oval Office, Obama commented on their "incredible journey.''
"Where are you exactly now, do you have any idea?'' Obama asked the shuttle crew. "About 200 miles up, approaching the Galapagos Islands,'' Altman replied.
The crew of the Atlantis includes Cmdr. Scott Altman, Mission Specialist Megan McArthur, who operated the robotic arm for the Hubble overhaul, and Astronauts John Grumsfeld, Mike Massimino and Drew Feustel.
Hear the conversation between Obama and the shuttle.
The mission, Obama said, shows how "humanity can work together... even in the harshest conditions... Here in Washington, there's a lot of talk of clarifying our focus, our vision for where our country needs to go.... You've clarified the definition of what vision means.''
The commander, who failed to glean the name of the new NASA boss, did mention that they'd taken a good astro-picture of Chicago.
"I've got to get a copy of that picture,'' Obama said. "Did you guys see my house? I've got to figure out if the lawn is getting mowed there.''
(President Barack Obama calling the crew of the Space Shuttle Atlantis from the Oval Office today. Photo by Alex Wong / Getty Images)
Comments
Right...wait till the crew of the space station gets back to earth and they find out how much their taxes will be going up....They'll wanna go back.
Thanks you dead-beat Obama drones.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | May 21, 2009 12:47 AM
Don't mention it, Buddy. Now, maybe you will start paying your taxes, like every one else !! What do you think, living in America is free ? Not since you, " Republicans ", got through with this nation, the last 8 years !! So, quit your whining and pay your fair share or go over to China and see how long, you would last there !! As a matter of fact, wasn't it our taxes that allowed Atlantis, to make that flight ? Here, for a split second, I thought it was free !! Now, if we could just spend some tax dollars, to buy some intelligence for the " Republicans " !! Now, that would be a sound investment, if it succeeds, of course and there is no guarantee, that it would !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, America | May 21, 2009 11:11 AM