 Ladies and gentlemen the president of the United States. Thank you very much. Thank you Thank you Thank You Jim Beggs I'm a little self-conscious right now About arriving kind of an old-fashioned way in a helicopter and After what I've seen here. I'm even more self-conscious about the fact that I'm a captain of the horse cavalry But I'm delighted to be with you today and to have this chance to say Congratulations on this morning's liftoff of the discovery mission I'm honored to meet all of you who are making this great adventure happen You've sparked the dreams and imagination of a nation from the youngest boys and girls in classrooms across our country to individuals like myself who are approaching the Outer limits of their middle-aged years You go Quietly about your work far removed from the glare and the gloss and the glitter of public spotlights, but What you do is important You're expanding our wealth of knowledge and with that knowledge you're fueling a mighty tide of progress carrying the hope of an optimistic future for people here and everywhere Yours is the work of a true revolution Not a revolution poisoned by hatred and violence and the will to conquer But one that's rising from the deepest yearnings of the human spirit to challenge the limits of knowledge and to put the power of discovery At the service of our most noble and generous impulses for decency progress and yes for peace today on behalf of a grateful nation I Salute you and your colleagues in private enterprise and the academic world You're the heroes of high tech the pulse of America's technological power The champions of a confident people whose faith and courage are pushing America up and out To a world of wonders for us our children and our children's children The space age is barely a quarter of a century old But already we have taken giant steps for all mankind and our progress is a tribute to American teamwork and excellence We can be proud that we are first We're the best and we are so because we're free There's nothing that the United States of America cannot accomplish if the doubting Thomas's would just stand aside and get out of our way In a single generation we freed ourselves from the bounds of earth We've set our footprints on the surface of the moon We've used our instruments to explore space the Sun and our sister planets and Our space shuttle provides the first reusable space transportation system for research commercialization of space and scientific exploration Meeting these great challenges has given us benefits far more valuable than our original investments It has proven wrong those dreary souls who lack the vision to support your efforts With their pessimism America could never have gotten off the ground With your space shuttle we have again and again And I'm convinced your success confirms a vision that we share an America unafraid Reaching into space with courage and leadership Will be an America unsurpassed We have it within our power to create a bounty of new jobs technologies and medical breakthroughs Surpassing anything we've ever dreamed before or imagined We already benefit daily from a modern revolution in worldwide communications We can communicate with each other at a moment's notice virtually anywhere on the globe We can anticipate tomorrow's weather and prepare for it Our space shuttle system provides access to space for science technology communications and national security Only a few weeks ago we watched the Olympics on television Sharing excitement with people all over the world. I Can remember and believe me it doesn't seem long ago When we lived in the horse and buggy days of television We couldn't see a breaking event on the other side of the world until the film was shipped here But today thanks to your research and development work We have modern communication satellites being in crystal clear telecasts worldwide Another quiet revolution in technology has also been driven in part by the rigors of our space program New materials from plentiful natural resources like carbon and silicon are taking the place of expensive metals in virtually all Manufactured products our automobile engineers in Detroit are using lightweight Superstrong plastic like materials to reduce the weight of modern cars and Consumers are getting the benefits in the form of more miles to the gallon Computers using microchips Constantly redefining our world as they become smaller more powerful and less expensive Those chips are the heart of inexpensive electronic calculators now commonplace in the workplace community and classroom Sometimes these technological changes take place so gracefully over time that we hardly notice them Today our children have access to more computer power Than most professional scientists and engineers had in their laboratories at the beginning of the space age Dr. Robert Jastrow chairman of the first NASA lunar exploration committee Predicted nearly two years ago that the computer industry would double in size by 1986 becoming America's biggest business Already tens of thousands of practical applications of space and aeronautical technology are touching our lives I've just seen an exhibit here with a vast array of new products from life-saving vests for firemen To sophisticated aerial scanning techniques to locate and identify everything from schools of fish to mineral deposits to healthy Timberland In medicine we're seeing the vision of technology with a human face With one miraculous breakthrough after another The procedure called cat scanning uses a computer to compile a clear picture from x-rays taken at different angles Often permitting patients to avoid the risks and discomforts of surgery Cat scanning has become a lifesaver in detecting diseases of the brain and other vital organs the pioneer field of Computer-controlled walking has given hope to thousands of paralyzed Americans that someday they may walk again The widespread use of sound waves allows doctors to avoid potentially harmful use of x-rays Using sound waves to monitor the progress of babies inside the womb Permits earlier diagnosis of problems a safer pregnancy and delivery for the mother and better health for the baby HTS for human tissue simulator Sends electrical impulses through wire leads to targeted nerve centers our particular areas of the brain Providing relief from pain and stopping unwanted involuntary motion I'm happy to point out that HTS was sponsored by the Goddard Space Center I've also been shown a handheld x-ray machine and the programmable implantable medication system called PIMS That administers medication automatically within the body It would be difficult to put a price tag on the value of these human benefits Even more dazzling opportunities lie ahead if only we have the faith and courage to keep pushing on Each technological breakthrough enables us to work from a new and higher plateau It opens the door to great leaps in productivity, which would have been considered unthinkable only a few decades ago Permit me to suggest that the fraternity of pessimists Who today insist strong growth will ignite high inflation are looking at abstract statistics theories and models Not the reality of a changing world They do not see that as we acquire more and more knowledge from new technologies We no longer move forward in inches or feet. We begin to leap forward Working in the zero gravity environment of space. We can manufacture in just one month's time Life-saving medicines that it would take 30 years to manufacture on earth and we can manufacture crystals of exceptional purity That may enable us to produce supercomputers and make even greater breakthroughs in productivity Our vision is not an impossible dream It's a waking dream as Americans let us cultivate the art of seeing things invisible Only by challenging the limits of growth will we have the strength and knowledge to make America a rocket of hope shooting to the stars High technology is born from capital More capital will require continued incentives for risk-taking and investment not tax increases, which would stifle growth We support high tech not high taxes The federal government was constantly endeavored to strengthen the private economy While supporting research and development particularly in universities to train tomorrow's industrial and academic scientists and engineers Our agenda for excellence in education with the elementary and secondary school level is also crucial So students like those I met at Jefferson junior high school on Monday Can acquire the knowledge to enter universities and one day stepped into these vital positions of leadership and responsibility between 1981 and 1985 Federal investment in basic research will have increased by almost 30 percent in real terms and We will carry forward that strong commitment into the future We will also continue our support of tax credits for industrial R&D expenses And we'll strive to lessen concerns that cooperative R&D between companies may violate anti-trust statutes With the power of economic growth and the courage and determination of a free people We can keep our number one challenge in space To develop a permanently manned space station and do it within a decade From that space station we can carry out the kind of work in medicines and crystals. I mentioned a moment ago We can conduct new research explore the distant planets and At the same time unlock the vast potential for commerce in space by easing tax laws and regulations Which discriminate against commercial vetchers? And we'll be doing all these things for the sake of a more peaceful and prosperous world America has always been greatest when we dared to be great We will be leaders in space because the American people would rather reach for the stars Then reach for excuses why we shouldn't and as American technology transforms the great black night of space into a bright new world of opportunities We can use that knowledge to create a new American Opportunity Society Here at home We can ensure every person has not only an equal chance But a much greater chance to pursue the American dream to do this We must maintain and increase our older industries ability to compete in the world Stimulate creation of sunrise industries and meet the challenge of ensuring American leadership and prosperity into the 21st century Poemian optimist, I'm convinced that if we do accept this challenge if we maximize incentives invest fully in the new technologies and strive for the great breakthroughs in productivity Then yes, we can out-produce out-compete and outsell the pants off anybody anywhere in the world We can build an America that Offers productive secured job opportunities for all our fellow citizens from assembly line workers to Research scientists in new industries such as biotechnology robotics and information processing We can meet our goal of assuring adequate supplies of affordable energy so that never again Will the American people be held hostage by a foreign cartel? We can apply new agricultural technologies to preserve our soil and environment and dramatically enhance productivity through improvements in crop yields and resistance to disease and harsh environments We can enhance our world leadership in agricultural production and In nutritional assistance to millions who look to America for hope and for help If we're to keep our economy healthy and strong We need to stay healthy and strong ourselves Our success will depend on each person's willingness to adopt healthy habits our collective ability to improve an already effective health care system and Our continued research and pioneer work in the kinds of medical technologies. You're developing right here Before this decade is how our administration is committed to reducing significantly the death rate for all age groups and To ensuring older Americans can live healthier longer more productive lives We can and we must The dream of America is much more than who we are Or what we do It is above all what we will be We must always be the new world The world of discovery the world that reveres the great truths of its past But that looks forward with unending faith to the promise of the future In my heart, I know we have that faith a dream lives on America will remain future's child the golden hope for all mankind Thank you for welcoming me today. Thank you for all you do and Thank you for your courage to dream great dreams God bless you all and if we may offer and present to you a small token of our appreciation for your coming here today As you know on the last shuttle mission We went up and repaired a satellite and that satellite the solar maximum mission satellite was developed here at Goddard And indeed the repairs for were designed and developed here at Goddard and they were installed With cooperation with the Houston mission control and the Houston astronauts, of course It was a very successful mission and we now have another very valuable Scientific satellite working again for several years This this model is a glass-blown model of that showing the astronaut on his way out and We hope that it will remind you many times both of The visit to Goddard as well as the strong support that you have given to this program in which we very much appreciate and the Encouragement which you continue to offer we thank you for that very much since the model is fragile will deliver it to the Oval Office Thank you all very much now as a little girl told me in a letter a few years ago. I'll get back to the office and go to work