[Pyro7480]

A year later, in one of our country's most memorable Fourth of July celebrations, President Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan greeted the Columbia STS-4 crew of Thomas Mattingly and Henry Hartsfield upon the conclusion of their successful mission at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

Upon egress, Ken Mattingly (foreground) and Henry W. Hartsfield, Jr. are greeted this July 4th by President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan. Both astronauts are still military officers, so a salute to the Commander in Chief is in order

[r9etb]

I had the privilege of being on hand and up front when Reagan went to Johnson Space Center prior to the STS-26 reflight. It was a hot, hot, extremely humid Houston summer afternoon -- worse than normal, even -- and the we had to stand in a parking lot. I was literally soaked in sweat.

I don't recall the speech itself, other than that it was OK. What I do remember is Reagan's presence. He literally commanded attention. You just couldn't look at anybody else. He had a way of looking at the crowd, and I remember how he'd make eye contact with people.

[Pyro7480]

[SmithPatterson]

Amen to this...Thanks for posting this..Not many within NASA thought Reagan supported the space program.

[Prime Choice]

One of Reagan's most eloquent statements came during one of NASA's darkest hours. It is fittingly set here...

[sgtbono2002]

I am having a problem understanding why the shuttle isnt flying now. They know what caused the problem , they know the old foam worked, The hell with PC , put on the old foam and fly the thing out of here.