Obama marks end of shuttle era, urges NASA to ‘break new boundaries’

President Obama on Friday marked the passing of an era of manned space flight, lauding not only the crew of the space shuttle Atlantis but the men and women who have supported NASA’s efforts for more than 30 years.

“Behind Atlantis and her crew of brave astronauts stand thousands of dedicated workers who have poured their hearts and souls into America’s space shuttle program over the past three decades. To them and all of NASA’s incredible workforce, I want to express my sincere gratitude. You helped our country lead the space age, and you continue to inspire us each day,” Obama said in a statement from the White House.

Atlantis blasted off from the Florida coast Friday morning. It was the 135th -- and last -- shuttle mission. Obama wants to shift the space agency’s focus to manned flights to an asteroid and perhaps Mars, although the climate of budget austerity in Washington is likely to make achieving those goals more challenging.

“Today’s launch may mark the final flight of the space shuttle, but it propels us into the next era of our never-ending adventure to push the very frontiers of exploration and discovery in space,” the president said. “We’ll drive new advances in science and technology. We’ll enhance knowledge, education, innovation and economic growth. And I have tasked the men and women of NASA with an ambitious new mission: to break new boundaries in space exploration, ultimately sending Americans to Mars. I know they are up to the challenge -- and I plan to be around to see it.”