Endeavour astronauts visit Marshall Space Flight Center

Posted: Jul 13, 2011 3:23 PM CDT Updated: Jul 13, 2011 6:14 PM CDT

By Tricia Forbes Huntsville, AL (WAFF) -

Two astronauts who made the final flight aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour make a stop in rocket city.

"The last flight of Endeavour I think was a great tribute to all the hard work that was done here in Huntsville Alabama," said Col. Mike Fincke, STS-134 Mission Specialist.

Marshall Space Flight Center had a hand in everything from the solid rocket boosters that got Endeavour off the ground, to the science experiments it brought to the international space station. And with the shuttle program drawing to a close, NASA astronauts are looking to the future.

"We've got 3-6 people living on the space station for the next decade or more and so we have a lot of things going on in space. There's a center of expertise for propulsion and new rockets, that's here at MSFC. So as we go forward with all of our new rockets and go back to the moon and asteroids and beyond, I really think that Marshall is going to play a critical role," said Col. Finicke

"Just like trains, just like planes, the space program, at some point has to go to private companies to compete and innovate in order to make a profit and learn new things," added Col. Finicke.

The astronauts remain optimistic about space exploration. They promise the future of NASA will be just as exciting for the next generation as it was for them.

"Don't worry it'll work out fine. The next thing that's coming is going to take us farther away, and we're going to go live on the moon, and visit asteroids. It's going to be really exciting. so hang in there, kids," said Gregory Johnson, STS-134 Endeavour Pilot.

Sts-134 delivered the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer to the International Space Station. It was the final piece in the construction of the ISS.

The shuttle Endeavour will soon be on permanent display at the California Science Center in Los Angeles.