MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The Alabama Legislature paused briefly from the frantic activities of the final days of the 2012 session to honor NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville.

Marshall acting director Gene Goldman told legislators Thursday the space flight center still has an important mission even though the space shuttle program has been discontinued.

He said Marshall, which developed the Saturn V moon rocket, is currently working on the new "Space Launch System," a long-range rocket to take "us exploring again beyond Earth's orbit."

Legislators presented Goldman with a resolution praising Marshall.

Goldman pointed out that Marshall does more than develop rockets. He said in recent years Marshall has helped Alabama deal with earthly issues such as the oil spill in the Gulf and tracking last April's deadly tornadoes.

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Legislature honors Marshall Space Flight Center