It was a Texas reunion of sorts at the White House Wednesday as the crew of STS-98 and their families got an opportunity to spend some time with the President of the United States.

STS-98 astronauts and NASA Administrator Goldin visit with President Bush at the White House. Photo: NASA

NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin and Mission Commander Kenneth Cockrell, a native of Austin, TX, led the rest of Cockrell's Space Shuttle Atlantis crewmates into the Oval Office for a meeting with President George W. Bush, the former Texas Governor.

Administrator Goldin and the crew presented the President, who is a former fighter jet pilot, with a blue NASA flight jacket.

During STS-98 in January, Commander Cockrell, Pilot Mark Polansky, and Mission Specialists Tom Jones, Marsha Ivins and Bob Curbeam, carried out one of the most important missions yet to the International Space Station, carrying the U.S. Destiny Laboratory Module to the orbiting research post. The crew also completed three spacewalks, relocated a docking port and delivered supplies and equipment to the Expedition One crew living aboard the space station. After the White House visit, the crew went to Capitol Hill to meet with a number of Congressional leaders.

President Bush presented with NASA jacket. Photo: NASA

This trip to the Washington, DC area is a homecoming for astronauts Jones, Curbeam and Ivins, who were all born in Baltimore, MD. Earlier this week, all five crewmembers received an enthusiastic reception at the Maryland Science Center, where they met with hundreds of young students to talk about their experiences in space and the importance of a good education.

Next week, astronauts Jones and Curbeam plan to help the Baltimore Orioles launch a new baseball season by throwing out the first pitch at Camden Yards as part of the team's opening day celebration.