Astronomy archive honors Sen. Mikulski

BALTIMORE, April 5 (UPI) -- One of the world's largest astronomy archives has been named in honor of U.S. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski of Maryland, the Space Telescope Science Institute said.

The Barbara A. Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes, to be known as MAST, contains astronomical observations from 16 NASA space astronomy missions including the Hubble Space Telescope, an STSci release said Thursday.

Democrat Mikulski is chairwoman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies.

"In celebration of Senator Mikulski's career-long achievements, and particularly this year, becoming the longest-serving woman in U.S. Congressional history, we sought NASA's permission to establish the Senator's permanent legacy to science by naming the optical and ultraviolet data archive housed here at the Institute in her honor," institute Director Matt Mountain said.

The Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore maintains the archive of information on stars, planets and galaxies.

"I'm humbled and honored to be recognized by our nation's top scientists and innovators as a fighter for science and research," Mikulski said. "I believe in American exceptionalism; not just because we say we are, but because of our investment in innovation."