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September13,
2002
Hispanic
Heritage Month
NASA
Remembers 9/11
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Crew
of STS-108 holding mini flags for victims' families of 9/11
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A televised presentation
by NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe of NASA's September 11 memorial
tribute provided insight of how NASA contributed to the recovery process
of what was lost on the same date last year.
Astronaut Frank
Culbertson Jr. was aboard the International Space Station last year
during the terrorist attacks, and shared the first images from space
of the fires from the World Trade Center along with a letter that
he wrote after viewing the horrific sight.
NASA employees
from around the nation contributed time, money and even blood to
help victims of the terrorist acts.
NASA sent a
remote sensing scientist to New York to assist with the disaster
recovery efforts along with providing satellite imagery that was
used to identify dangerous areas in the site and to determine the
potential presence of asbestos. In addition, NASA supplied enhanced
radar imagery, which provided a clearer picture of what was beneath
the surface.
A large American
flag from the New York City Police department, along with 6,000
smaller flags and other commemorative items, were flown aboard space
shuttle Endeavour on flight STS-108 and were late presented to victims'
families.
NASA Administrator
O'Keefe concluded the memorial tribute by expressing how proud he
was that NASA scientists are working hard to develop technologies
to prevent civilian aircraft from being used as weapons and to be
able to withstand explosion damage. He added that he felt confident
that the employees of NASA can assist with keeping something like
September 11th from happening again.
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