TRIBUTE TO ASTRONAUT DOCTOR MICHAEL FOALE

That this House congratulates Dr Michael Foale on being the first British-born astronaut to carry out a spacewalk from the space shuttle Discovery on Thursday 9th February, as part of the historic mission which involved a close approach to the Russian Mir Space Station; notes that Dr Foale is an astrophysics graduate of Cambridge University who became a naturalised American to achieve his ambition to become an astronaut; recognises that his dedication to the concept of space exploration will be an essential part of the preparation for the projected International Space Station; and believes that while Her Majesty's Government's current space policy places the emphasis on applications such as Earth observation and communications, Dr Foale's courage and commitment may be seen as an important part in the history of space exploration in which both the United Kingdom and the United States have a vital shared interest.