NASA remembers former President George H.W. Bush

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As the nation and world mourn the passing of former President George Herbert Walker Bush, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine also expressed his thoughts about President Bush’s impact on the Space Exploration initiative.

"NASA and the nation mourn the passing of President George Herbert Walker Bush, a leader who was a passionate advocate for space and the power of hope,” said Bridenstine in a statement. “The President noted it was humanity's destiny to explore, and America's destiny to lead. We salute this great American leader, who challenged us to chart a course for the future to benefit all humanity."

Birdenstine also lauded the president’s long service to our nation as a congressman, ambassador, director of Central Intelligence, and as an aviator in World War II even before assuming his duties as commander in chief, have left a long and enduring legacy.

Other notable contributions by President Bush to the space program included his vision of “a journey into tomorrow, journey to another planet and a manned mission to Mars.

It‘s ironic that NASA’s Insight Mars lander made a successful landing on the Red Planet on Nov. 26, just about a week before President Bush’s death on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018. His vision was to help sustain NASA’s early work on the International Space Station and aid efforts to send humans farther into the solar system for extended periods.

NASA shares the notion it was the President’s will for humanity’s destiny to explore and America’s destiny to lead.

As the 41st President, who died at the age of 94, is remembered during a funeral service at Washington National Cathedral Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2018, NASA salutes “this great American leader, who challenged us to chart a course for the future to benefit all humanity."