[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 135 (Thursday, October 1, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11235-S11236]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF NASA
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, on October 1, 1958, the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was created. No other
Government agency better represents the hopes and experiences of our
Nation during the course of its existence than NASA. To recall why that
is so, let's look back to where we were 40 years ago.
In October 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the world's
first artificial satellite. Many have claimed this had a ``Pearl
Harbor'' effect on the American people and galvanized public opinion in
favor of an aggressive U.S. space program. Americans believed that the
Soviet Union had gained a significant technological advantage over the
United States--bomb shelters were built at an even more rapid rate as
we turned our attention to the space race.
Then-Senator Lyndon Johnson, from my state of Texas, said that the
launch of Sputnik was ``* * * a new era of history dawning over the
world.'' He warned a Texas audience that, ``The mere fact that the
Soviets can put a satellite in the sky * * * does not alter the world
balance of power. But it does mean they are in a position to alter the
balance of power.''
Shortly thereafter, Senator Johnson introduced legislation to create
NASA and harnessed the energies, talents, and aspirations of a nation
embarking on a bold, new enterprise. The act reflected a remarkable
unanimity by the American people and a commitment to science and
exploration.
NASA wasted no time in bringing America into the space race. Shortly
after it was formed, NASA conducted several exciting programs that
launched us ahead of the Soviet Union in our quest to conquer space.
One of the most important initiatives involved human space flight--
Mercury's single astronaut program, Project Gemini's operations and
Project Apollo to explore the Moon. These names conjure up strong
images of fearless astronauts doing the impossible. In 1961, Alan B.
Shepard became
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the first American to fly in space. Of course, we remember him because
he died just recently. In 1962, John Glenn, who now serves with us in
the U.S. Senate, became the first American to orbit the Earth. Project
Gemini allowed two astronauts to travel in space. On Gemini IV, Edward
White became the first American to conduct a space walk.
In 1969, just 11 years after the creation of NASA, and less than a
decade after President Kennedy committed America to the project, Apollo
11 landed on the Moon and Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made the
dramatic ``leap'' for mankind. NASA completed five more lunar missions
and learned much about the origins of the Moon, as well as how to
support humans in outer space. Twelve American astronauts walked on the
Moon during the six Apollo missions. Nothing symbolizes the uniqueness
of this great Nation better than the American flag flying on the lunar
surface.
In 1975, NASA joined hands with its former competitor in the space
race and cooperated with the Soviet Union to achieve the first
international human space flight. This project successfully tested
joint rendezvous and docking procedures for spacecraft from the United
States and the Soviet Union.
In 1981, the advent of the space shuttle ushered in a new era of
space travel and exploration. By creating a reusable launch vehicle,
NASA was making access to space now more affordable. The disaster of
the Challenger brought the shuttle program to a rapid standstill. It
was a harsh reminder that the exploration of space is a dangerous and
unpredictable undertaking. Seven astronauts gave their lives on that
mission in an effort to further our knowledge of the universe. We owe
them and their families our eternal gratitude and respect.
Two years after the Challenger disaster, we returned to space.
Through mid-1998, NASA has safely launched 65 shuttle missions. These
missions have included a wide variety of scientific and engineering
missions. There are currently four shuttles in NASA's fleet and NASA is
working with the private sector to reduce the cost of space flight even
more. Two experimental vehicles, the X-33 and X-34, are prototypes for
cheaper, more efficient reusable launch vehicles that would provide
commercial entities with access to space. I commend NASA for continuing
to look to the future and the challenges that lie there.
One of our colleagues, John Glenn, is scheduled to return to space on
October 29th. It was in NASA's earliest days that John Glenn made
history by bring the first American to orbit the Earth. Now he is
making history again by being the oldest person to fly in space.
Looking forward to the next 40 years, NASA's future is as bright as
its past. NASA's core mission of any future space exploration will be
man's departure from Earth orbit and journeys to the Moon or Mars. This
will require extended, even permanent, stays in space and has led NASA
to begin construction of the International Space Station.
In 1984, Congress authorized NASA to build the space station as a
base for further exploration of space. A project of this magnitude was
certain to face a multitude of unkonwns--and NASA has confronted many
of them. As has always been the case, though, NASA will overcome these
obstacles and we will reap the rewards of doing so.
For example, NASA has developed a unique technology, a bioreactor,
that allows medical researchers to produce breakthrough results by
creating ``artificial'' human tissues outside the human body. This
bioreactor has provided new knowledge in cell science and tissue
engineering that will bring exciting advances in medicine and the
treatment of disease. This amazing technology is already being used by
scientists who are growing ovarian tumor samples so they can conduct
studies outside the body and without harm to the patient.
The absence of gravity on the space station also will allow new
insights into human health and disease prevention and treatment,
including heart, lung, and kidney function, cardiovascular disease,
osteoporosis, and immune system functions.
In recent years, NASA has obtained scientific data from space
experiments that is five times more accurate than that on Earth. None
of these benefits will be available unless we have a space station on
which we can perform adequate research.
The space station is the greatest peaceful scientific international
endeavor undertaken. This is our future and space is one of the last
unexplored regions of our universe. It holds untold knowledge and could
catapult us into even greater understanding of our world and yet
undiscovered worlds. Yes, the station will provide us with fantastic
science--but that is only one of the known positives of this great
endeavor. The unknowns are limitless and could provide us with
unimaginable discoveries. We are on the very cusp of launching the
first elements in November of this year, with the second element to
follow in December.
Since its inception in 1958, NASA has accomplished many great
scientific and technological feats. NASA's technology has been adapted
for many nonaerospace uses by the private sector. We can thank NASA for
so many things--from car phone technology, satellite imagery, the CAT
scan, to Velcro and freeze dried ice cream. At its fortieth
anniversary, NASA remains a leading force in scientific research and is
one of the best examples of the American spirit and our can-do
attitude.
We are proud of what NASA has achieved, and on this 40th anniversary
we do have a number of accomplishments to celebrate.
I thank the Chair and yield the floor.
Mr. SESSIONS addressed the Chair.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alabama is recognized.
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