NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

As we approach the Labor Day holiday, I wish to salute our NASA family members -- public servants and contractors alike -- for the hard work and diligence that enabled us to make exploration history this year in orbit around Saturn, on the surface of Mars, onboard the International Space Station, and in many other ways.

Image left: NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe. Photo credit: NASA

Among those who appreciate and marvel at the amazing things you do is our Commander-in-Chief. In his January 14 address to the Nation from NASA Headquarters, President Bush said, "This agency, and the dedicated professionals who serve it, have always reflected the finest values of our country -- daring, discipline, ingenuity, and unity in the pursuit of great goals."

The President's confidence in your abilities has resulted in NASA receiving the charge to work on a long-term effort to expand humanity's exploration horizons throughout the solar system. I believe it is a great tribute to each of you that the entire NASA team is deemed worthy of taking on such a noble challenge.

We have begun a process to transform NASA in order to wire our organization for success in carrying out the objectives of our new Vision for Space Exploration. I commend everyone within the NASA family for your willingness to embrace change and for your contributions to the transformation process.

While we have much work ahead of us in implementing our new space exploration objectives, it is fitting that we recognize with this last holiday of the summer the industriousness and dedication of the people who have brought us to this promising point.

I do hope you have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day weekend with your family members and friends. And to be sure, I know the thoughts of our entire NASA family will be with our colleagues at the Kennedy Space Center as they prepare to face the predicted landfall of Hurricane Frances.



Sean O'Keefe
NASA Administrator