[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 97 (Monday, July 20, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8578-S8579]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S8578]]
                      RECOGNITION OF ``SPACE WEEK"

  Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate ``Space Week'' 
and recognize the accomplishments of our nation's space programs over 
the course of forty years of NASA space exploration.
  As my colleagues may know, this month marks the 29th anniversary of 
the Apollo 11 launch on July 16, 1969 which began one of man's greatest 
voyages of exploration: the first flight to land a man on the moon. 
Like most Americans, I can recall my wonderment on July 20, 1969 when 
the lunar module Eagle landed on the moon. Soon thereafter, Commander 
Neil Armstrong descended from Eagle to the moon's surface and declared 
those memorable words, ``That's one small step for man, one giant leap 
for mankind.''
  Since that historic moment, NASA and its private sector partners have 
guided this nation to the forefront of aeronautical excellence. Today, 
this nation's commitment to expanding the development of technology and 
learning more about our vast universe remains as strong as ever.
  My home state of Minnesota has earned a well-deserved reputation as a 
high-technology giant, making our job creators a perfect match with 
NASA. That NASA depends so heavily on the ingenuity and know-how of 
Minnesota's high-tech industries is a strong testament to the 
innovative spirit of our citizens. I am particularly impressed at 
Minnesota's contributions to the space shuttle program, and I had the 
unique opportunity to witness their work first-hand last November, when 
I toured NASA's Florida facilities and viewed the launch of the space 
shuttle Columbia. I ask that the names of the 31 Minnesota firms 
currently working under NASA's space shuttle program be printed in the 
Record.
  The names follow:

     3M Company Industrial Chemical Product (St. Paul, Minnesota)
     ADC Telecommunications, Inc. (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
     Arrow Electronics (Chanhassen, Minnesota)
     Computype (St. Paul, Minnesota)
     Control Data Systems, Inc. (Arden Hills, Minnesota)
     Despatch Industries (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
     Digi-Key Corporation (Thief River Falls, Minnesota)
     Donaldson Company (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
     Dotronix, Inc. (New Brighton, Minnesota)
     Graco, Inc. (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
     Interactive Technologies, Inc. (North St. Paul, Minnesota)
     Intercomp Company (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
     Kavouras Incorporated (Burnsville, Minnesota)
     Midwest Systems (Burnsville, Minnesota)
     Minnetech Labs, Inc. (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
     Northern Hydraulics, Inc. (Burnsville, Minnesota)
     Pacific Digital Products (Burnsville, Minnesota)
     Reality Interactive, Inc. (Eden Prairie, Minnesota)
     Research Incorporated (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
     Rosemount Aerospace, Inc. (Eagan, Minnesota)
     Rosemount, Inc. (Chanhassen, Minnesota)
     Sheldahl Incorporated (Northfield, Minnesota)
     Starkey Laboratories, Inc. (Eden Prairie, Minnesota)
     Telex Communications (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
     Tescom (Elk River, Minnesota)
     The Winsted Corporation (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
     Try Us Resources, Inc. (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
     TSI, Inc. (St. Paul, Minnesota)
     Twin Cities Digital (Burnsville, Minnesota)
     W.A. Charnstrom Company (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
     Zero (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

  Mr. GRAMS. Minnesotans were there at the dawn of the Space Age, and I 
look forward to the role our state will play as the next chapter of 
America's space history, the era of the International Space Station, is 
written.
  I believe the nation's space programs, such as the International 
Space Station, represent important investments in America's future. The 
scientific and technological benefits of this ambitious initiative are 
impressive and will produce a high rate of return on the American 
taxpayers' investment in aeronautical and space programs. Among these 
benefits, the space station will provide new insight into industrial 
research for air and water purification, waste management and 
recycling, computer technology, and environmental engineering. Most 
notable is the progress being made in the biomedical field.
  The promise of a long-term, zero gravity environment has scientists 
poised to conduct research into the development of cures for diabetes, 
cancer, emphysema, and immune system disorders. Moreover, the study and 
eventual findings of why astronauts who spend extended periods of time 
in space often experience weakening of their hearts and blood vessels 
may lead to the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. It should 
also be noted that the International Space Station is supported by many 
of this nation's most prominent medical and research organizations, 
including the American Medical Association, the Multiple Sclerosis 
Association of America, the American Medical Woman's Association, 
Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Mount Sinai Medical Center. Clearly, the 
space station promises to make significant contributions to the study 
of medicine.
  Mr. President, the International Space Station will help to maintain 
U.S. leadership in space while promoting international cooperation. 
This international laboratory in orbit will bring American, Russian, 
European, Japanese, and Canadian astronauts together in search of a 
common goal: to develop further advances in science and technology that 
will benefit future generations.
  More importantly for the young people of America, the space station 
will inspire greater interest in our nation's space programs. With this 
in mind, I would like to commend some of the colleges and universities 
in my home state of Minnesota for their commitment to encouraging the 
involvement of our country's future leaders in our aeronautical and 
space industry.
  Mr. President, since 1989, NASA has administered the ``Space Grant'' 
program to enhance aerospace research and education in the United 
States. This program is an effective partnership among universities, 
the aerospace industry, and federal, state, and local governments that 
assists in the recruitment and training of professionals in aerospace 
science, engineering, and technology.
  In my home state, the Minnesota Space Grant Consortium is comprised 
of nine academic institutions along with the Minnesota Department of 
Transportation. Those nine institutions are: Augsburg College, Bemidji 
State University, Bethel College, College of St. Catherine, Fond du Lac 
Tribal and Community College, Macalester College, Normandale Community 
College, the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and the University of 
St. Thomas.
  For the last several years, these institutions have worked 
effectively together to promote aerospace science through fellowships 
and scholarships, the development of new courses in Physics and 
Geology, the establishment of a new Space Studies minor among the 
consortia members, and public lectures relating to space science and 
engineering.
  I met recently with Emily Eelkema, a native of Minneapolis and a 
senior at the University of Minnesota studying Aerospace Engineering. 
Emily is a participant in the NASA Academy on Aeronautics at the Dryden 
Flight Research Center in California, and was initially selected for 
this honor through the Minnesota Space Grant Consortium.
  Those selected for the NASA Academy are among the brightest students 
in the country and have expressed a deep interest in NASA aeronautical 
space research. I was extremely impressed by Emily's grasp of Dryden's 
flight research program and her life-long interest in aeronautics and 
space activities. I am encouraged to learn of her goals of becoming an 
astronaut and playing an important role in the design of a manned Mars 
mission. Her commitment to a career in this exciting field makes me 
optimistic about the future of our space program.
  Mr. President, the commemoration of ``Space Week'' would not be 
complete without paying tribute to a true American hero, our colleague 
Senator John Glenn. On October 29, Senator Glenn will embark on a 
second journey into space, this time aboard the Space Shuttle 
Discovery, as a Payload Specialist responsible for conducting space-
based research on aging. His work may lead to further understanding by 
scientists about the process of

[[Page S8579]]

aging, and help reduce the number of individuals requiring long-term 
medical care in their later years.
  Many deserving accolades have been placed upon Senator Glenn for his 
accomplishments throughout his career as a marine, the first American 
to orbit the Earth, and a United States Senator. I believe no 
commendation has captured the essence of John Glenn's commitment to 
public service than that bestowed upon him more than 35 years ago by 
President Kennedy during a visit to Cape Canaveral, Florida.
  Upon presentation of NASA's Distinguished Service Medal to Lt. 
Colonel Glenn, President Kennedy spoke of Glenn's historic orbital 
flight when he said, ``His performance was marked by his great 
professional knowledge, his skill as a test pilot, his unflinching 
courage, and his extraordinary ability to perform the most difficult 
tasks under conditions of great physical stress and personal danger. 
His performance in fulfillment of this most dangerous assignment 
reflects the highest credit upon himself and the United States.''
  Mr. President, I encourage all Americans to reflect upon the benefits 
of our nation's space programs during this Space Week. As we approach 
the 21st century, Americans can share a sense of national pride as we 
move forward in our epic journey--a journey filled with uncertainty, 
yet with great promise--into the space frontier.

                          ____________________