WASHINGTON – Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ-07) today met with Edison native Mark Polansky, who recently served as of the Commander of the NASA Space Shuttle Crew to the International Space Station.

During the meeting, Polansky briefed Lance on his mission accomplishments at the Space Station and the overall goals for NASA.

“All Americans should be proud of our NASA space shuttle crew members for their successful mission to the ISS,” Lance said. “But the people of Edison and New Jersey are particularly proud of Commander Polansky and his great achievements. Commander Polansky is a true American hero and an inspiration to all of us who believe that if you dream it, you can do it.”

Polansky was the commander of the STS-127 mission, which launched aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour on July 15, 2009 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During this 16 day mission, the seven-member crew installed the Japanese Exposed Facility onto the ISS and performed five spacewalks. Polansky returned to Earth with his crew on July 31, 2009.

Commander Polansky was born in Patterson, New Jersey and graduated from John P. Stevens High School in Edison in 1974. Polansky considers Edison his hometown.

PHOTO NOTE: On Capitol Hill, Congressman Lance (center) talks with NASA crew members Pilot Dave Wolf (LEFT) of Indianapolis, Indiana and Commander Mark Polansky (RIGHT) of Edison, New Jersey about their recent mission to the International Space Station.