As the longest-lived president in U.S. history, Jimmy Carter’s voice will continue to “reach the universe” after his death at the age of 100.
Carter, who died on Sunday (December 29) at his home in Plains, Georgia, documented the country’s official message for the 1977 launch, now in orbit beyond the solar system. voyager gold record. He addressed any civilization or species that might encounter dual probes in the future: “We are trying to survive our time so that we can live in your time.”
“We are saddened by the passing of President Jimmy Carter, who contributed to the Voyager Golden Record currently sailing through interstellar space,” NASA officials said. release to the agency’s social media accounts. “Carter’s message of peace continues to spread across the ‘wide and awesome universe.'”
Carter served as the 39th President of the United States from 1977 to 1981. In addition to serving as president when the Voyager probes left Earth, he served as president during NASA’s 1978 recruitment of the first women, black and Asian astronauts and Skylab . Falling to Earth in 1979.
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But Carter’s greatest legacy to the space program may be his support for funding the continued development of the space shuttle. Without the additional funding NASA received in 1979 and 1980, two years during which Carter sought deep spending cuts, the iconic winged orbiter might never have left the ground, flying longer than in history Any other U.S. spacecraft is a long way from that.
Although Carter well known to favor With NASA’s robotic missions surpassing those of launching astronauts, he saw the value in advancing space transportation systems.
“I am not a fan of sending humans on missions to Mars or outer space,” Carter said in a statement. Interview 2016 In partnership with the Ars Technica website. “But I think the space shuttle is a good way to continue the good work of NASA. I don’t want to waste the money that has been invested.
On October 1, 1978, Carter received the latest information on space shuttle progress while visiting the Kennedy Space Center to celebrate NASA’s 20th anniversary. During the same trip, Carter paid tribute to some of America’s most accomplished astronauts by introducing the work of the first astronaut. Congressional Space Medal of Honor Awards.
The medal’s first recipients include Apollo 11 commander Neil Armstrong, Gemini pilots Frank Borman and Charles “Pete” Conrad, and “original” Mercury astronaut John Glenn , Virgil “Gus” Gleason (posthumously) and Alan Shepard.
In 2002, Carter and former first lady Roslyn returned to the Florida spaceport for a tour, where the former president met with astronauts aboard the space shuttle, including then-center director Roy Bridges.
In addition to his interactions with the U.S. space program, Carter was praised for his decades of volunteer service after leaving office. For this he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
“President Carter was the pinnacle of a public servant who dedicated his life to making our world a better place,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. in a statement. “He showed us that everyone has the ability to make a difference.”
“From providing aid to those in need and protecting the environment to advocating for civil and human rights, President Carter was a good man who always tried to do the right thing. He embodied the best in humanity, and his life and legacy were example.
Public memorial services will be held in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., followed by private interment in Plains, Georgia. Final arrangements for Carter’s state funeral, including all public events and motorcade routes, will be released by the National Capital Region Joint Task Force.
According to the Carter Center, the public is encouraged to visit the official tribute website: www.jimmycartertribute.org. The website includes an official online book of condolences, as well as printed and visual biographical materials commemorating Carter’s life.