WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) today celebrated the announcement that National Aeronautic and Space Administration’s (NASA) Hubble Space Telescope had taken the first visible-light snapshot of a planet orbiting another star. Senator Mikulski is Chairwoman of the Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee, which funds NASA.

Senator Mikulski’s statement is below:

"Hubble continues to amaze us – this discovery is the first time we've ever gotten a picture of a planet orbiting a distant star. I’m so proud of the men and women at Goddard and the Space Telescope Science Institute for their contributions and dedication to these great discoveries. I share the worldwide excitement about the upcoming servicing mission to extend Hubble's life and give it an even more powerful view into the Universe. Hubble is the telescope that could, and its best years are still ahead."