[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 79 (Friday, June 14, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1066]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING NASA AND DR. FRANKLIN CHANG-DIAZ FOR A SHUTTLE MISSION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 13, 2002

  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate NASA on 
the successful launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavour on June 6. This 
important mission has delivered the Expedition Five crew, and continues 
to install the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module and the Mobile 
Remote Servicer Base System on the International Space Station.
  This launch marks Endeavour's 18th flight and also marks the 14th 
shuttle flight to the space station. This launch is also historically 
significant because Astronaut Franklin Chang-Diaz makes a record-tying 
seventh flight into space. He now shares the record with Astronaut 
Jerry Ross.
  During this mission, Astronaut Franklin Chang-Diaz, along with French 
Space Agency Astronaut Philippe Perrin have also preformed three 
scheduled spacewalks that continue the assembly of the International 
Space Station. These extravehicular activities mark the first time that 
Chang-Diaz and Perrin have been the first spacewalks for both 
astronauts.
  Four years ago, I had the privilege of meeting and getting to know 
Dr. Franklin Chang-Diaz, an outstanding scientist and an accomplished 
astronaut. During this four year period, Dr. Chang-Diaz has accompanied 
me to nine middle schools in my district to talk about the importance 
of our national space program and to encourage students to take more 
math and science classes. I have also had the opportunity to visit his 
plasma propulsion laboratory at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in 
Houston.
  Dr. Chang-Diaz is a man of many talents. Not only is he the second 
human to make seven space flights, he is also currently developing the 
new Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR) concept. 
The VASIMR prototype rocket engine is designed to shorten the trip to 
Mars and provide a saver environment for the crew.
  Dr. Chang-Diaz has been working with scientists at NASA and the 
Department of Energy to develolp this project. To date, he has been 
able to secure just enough funding to keep the project operating. 
However, this project is too important to allow it to just survive. I 
am hopeful that NASA will quickly realize the need to have a dedicated 
stream of funding for the VASIMR project.
  Our nation is fortunate to have such outstanding individuals, like 
Dr. Chang-Diaz and the other crew members, as part of our national 
space program. Our NASA astronauts are scheduled to arrive back to 
earth on Monday, June 17. At that time, I look forward to welcoming 
back our heros.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating 
Astronaut Franklin Chang-Diaz, the Johnson Space Center in Houston and 
everyone at NASA for a successful launch and a successful mission.

                          ____________________