[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 118 (Tuesday, September 20, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H8123-H8126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONGRATULATING NASA AND THE ``DISCOVERY'' CREW
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 441) to congratulate the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration and the Discovery crew of Commander Eileen
Collins, Pilot Jim Kelly, Mission Specialist Charlie Camarda, Mission
Specialist Wendy Lawrence, Mission Specialist Soichi Noguchi, Mission
Specialist Steve Robinson, and Mission Specialist Andy Thomas on the
successful completion of their 14 day test flight to the International
Space Station for the first step of the Vision for Space Exploration,
begun from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on July 26, 2005, and
completed at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on August 9, 2005.
This historical mission represented a great step forward into the new
beginning of the Second Space Age, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 441
Whereas the Space Shuttle Return-to-Flight is the first
step in the Nation's Vision for Space Exploration;
Whereas the Space Shuttle Discovery Crew completed three
highly successful extra-vehicular activity spacewalks;
Whereas the STS flight 114 accomplished the first in-flight
heat shield repairs on the Space Shuttle;
Whereas the Discovery crew delivered more than 6 tons of
needed supplies and equipment to the International Space
Station;
Whereas Discovery's spacewalkers removed a failed Space
Station gyroscope and replaced it with a new one, restoring
full capability of the Station's attitude control system;
Whereas the Discovery mission successfully used three
different Canadian robotic extensions to conduct spacewalks
and to survey the Shuttle: the Shuttle Canadarm; the Space
Station Canadarm2; and the Orbiter Boom Sensor System;
Whereas the crew of the Discovery experienced ``virtual''
visits from leaders of 2 nations, the President of the United
States and the Prime Minister of Japan; and
Whereas Commander Eileen Collins led the crew of 7 and
guided the Discovery vehicle through an unprecedented back
flip maneuver: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) commends the entire National Aeronautics and Space
Administration team and community, who provided invaluable
technical support and leadership for the historic mission of
Space Shuttle Discovery STS flight 114;
(2) commends Commander Eileen Collins, for being the first
female space shuttle commander and a role model for all;
(3) commends Col. Jim Kelly, pilot of STS 114, for his
second flight aboard the Space Shuttle and his participation
in robotic arm operations;
(4) commends Charlie Camarda, mission specialist, a
``rookie'' who performed like a veteran by transferring the
multipurpose logistics module from the International Space
Station to the Space Shuttle;
(5) commends Wendy Lawrence, mission specialist, for
outstanding skill in operating Canadarm2;
(6) commends Soichi Noguchi of Japan, mission specialist, a
``rookie'' who was a ``spacewalker'' for the inspections and
repairs of the Space Shuttle;
(7) commends Steve Robinson, mission specialist, for his
outstanding skill as a ``spacewalker,'' who enhanced and
repaired Discovery and the International Space Station; and
(8) commends Andy Thomas, mission specialist, who performed
the laser checks on the leading edge of the Space Shuttle by
the operation of Canadarm2.
{time} 1615
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). Pursuant to the rule, the
gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert) and the gentleman from Texas
(Mr. Al Green) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert).
General Leave
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 441, the resolution
under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
[[Page H8124]]
There was no objection.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Today, we are paying tribute to real American heroes, the crew of the
return-to-flight STS-114 Discovery shuttle mission and the NASA team
and community on the ground. These heroes have the right stuff that
inspires a Nation, from kids studying math and science, to all of us
who are awed and inspired by NASA, and our astronauts.
When I introduced this resolution less than a week ago, we had such
enthusiastic support that we quickly secured 55 bipartisan cosponsors
who represent communities across the Nation. When we pass this
resolution today, we plan to present a copy to each member of the
Discovery crew as a token of the Nation's gratitude for their heroism.
We all worry about the competitiveness of this great Nation and the
fact that our schoolchildren are less competitive in math and science
than many of their international peers. Currently, the U.S. share of
undergraduate and graduate degrees in sciences and engineering has been
falling behind those of Asia and Europe. Intuitively, we know that we
need to encourage our youth to study these challenging subjects, and
with heroes like Commander Eileen Collins, Pilot Jim Kelly, Mission
Specialists Charlie Camarda, Wendy Lawrence, Soichi Noguchi, Steve
Robinson, and Andy Thomas, it is much easier to inspire American
students to devote their time and studies to science, as we saw during
the Apollo program.
The NASA family and this Discovery crew have initiated the first step
of the Nation's Vision for Space Exploration. Last year, the President
announced the Vision for Space Exploration which states that NASA will
complete the International Space Station, will return to the Moon no
later than 2020, and will extend human presence across the solar system
and beyond. This week, NASA released its Exploration Architecture for
this vision, which outlines the steps NASA plans to take in order to
return to the Moon and explore our solar system over the next 13 years.
In the first space age, our Nation invested in the space program to
gain global leadership during the Cold War. Now we are in the second
space age, with our global competitiveness worldwide at stake. We must
have the United States at the forefront in the exploration of our solar
system and the global leader in the high-technology industries. Our
preeminence in the world is dependent on our leadership in space.
We honor the STS-114 Discovery crew as true American heroes. They are
strong men and women who motivate our children and inspire our Nation
and the world. They have taken the historic first step of the Vision
for Space Exploration and have brought us one step closer to our
Nation's destiny.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the brave crew of STS-114 for
their hard work and dedication in carrying out the space shuttle's
return-to-flight mission.
The astronauts of STS-114 did a superb job. They performed their
tasks flawlessly, executing complex maneuvers, conducting several space
walks, performing on-the-fly repairs, and delivering critically needed
supplies to the International Space Station. In short, they made it
look easy, but in fact we know that it was an extremely challenging
mission.
I am pleased that this House is honoring their accomplishments today.
At the same time, I think they would be the first to acknowledge that
they did not do it alone.
The STS-114 crew was backed by a superb team on the ground who also
deserve our praise. The engineers and support staff who made this
mission possible should be equally proud of their accomplishments.
Their hard work and long hours spent preparing for this mission are
fully recognized and gratefully appreciated.
Thus, by our actions today, we thank all of those who are
responsible, not just the astronauts, but the entire NASA team,
thousands of dedicated men and women at NASA centers and at contractor
facilities across the country. We thank them for their dedication and
perseverance, and we want them to know that they are special to us.
NASA has made great strides since the tragic Columbia accident. While
it is clear that additional work lies ahead, it is fitting that we take
a moment to celebrate what has been accomplished thus far.
I would like to thank the gentleman from California (Chairman
Calvert) for his leadership in introducing this outstanding resolution,
and I am honored to speak in support of it.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
upstate New York (Mr. Boehlert), the chairman of our committee.
(Mr. BOEHLERT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I will insert this wonderful statement,
developed by a very capable staff, in the Record, but let me just speak
a couple of minutes about something that I think is really important.
While we salute the magnificent team of people that made STS-114
possible, and I am not just talking about Colonel Collins and her crew,
I am talking about all those dedicated professionals in NASA all over
the country. They are a part of a team that developed the success
story, but I want to salute the American taxpayers for supporting this
mission with their hard-earned tax dollars.
A lot of people will say to me what is all this about space, this
Buck Rogers stuff, flying in the heavens? I will tell my colleagues
what it is about. It is about finding new ways, better ways, to do
things for the most important planet in the universe, the one we live
on, the planet Earth.
We derive so much from that investment in space right here at home on
the planet Earth, and Colonel Collins and all the other team provide a
constant source of inspiration to our young people to pursue career
opportunities, to master the science and math disciplines. It is
wonderful. And if the United States of America hopes to maintain its
preeminent position in the international marketplace, we have got to do
better. What better example of what can be achieved than the dedicated,
committed, outstanding crew of Space Transportation System 114?
It is a pleasure for me to join my colleagues in congratulating them
and all of their associates in the NASA family and all those
contractors, all the thousands of people who made possible this
wonderful success story.
I want to congratulate the entire NASA return-to-flight team and the
seven members of the crew of STS-114 for the recent successful
completion of their 14-day mission on the Space Shuttle Discovery.
Specifically, I would like to congratulate Commander Eileen Collins,
Pilot Jim Kelly, Mission Specialist Charlie Camarda, Mission Specialist
Wendy Lawrence, Mission Specialist Soichi Noguchi (SO-ee-chee NO-gu-
chee), Mission Specialist Steve Robinson, and Mission Specialist Andy
Thomas on the successful completion of their test flight to the
International Space Station.
We commend the crew for the risks they take in furthering our
Nation's goals in space exploration and we recognize them for the fine
examples they set in pushing back the frontiers of knowledge. This
flight was the first since the Columbia accident more than 2\1/2\ years
ago and represents the culmination of a tremendous amount of work by
government and contractor engineers, scientists, technicians, and
operators. This flight also brought more than six tons of much needed
supplies to the International Space Station. The return-to-flight team
and crew is to be congratulated for this important step in moving our
Nation's human spaceflight program forward.
I would like to thank the Chairman of the Space and Aeronautics
Subcommittee for introducing this resolution to recognize the
significant achievements of the NASA team and the crew of STS-114.
Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to yield as much
time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie
Bernice Johnson).
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, let me thank my
colleague for his leadership in bringing this resolution to the floor.
I rise to congratulate the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration and the Discovery crew on their successful return to
flight this spring and on the many hours of work leading up to that
pivotal moment.
[[Page H8125]]
As a member of the House Committee on Science, I support NASA's
commitment to science and technology research in space. It has been
very successful. I also support the breakthroughs in aeronautics
research that NASA has made over the years.
NASA research touches many aspects of our everyday lives such as
satellite phone technologies, intensive care monitoring, highway
safety, breast cancer biopsies, and hurricane observation technology,
and I could go on.
To NASA and the Discovery crew, I say well done. I was really on pins
and needles until they hit Earth safely.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Dallas, Texas (Mr. Hall).
(Mr. HALL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution to
congratulate NASA and the crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery on their
very successful completion of their latest mission.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution to
congratulate NASA and the crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery on the
successful completion of their latest mission to the International
Space Station. Commander Eileen Collins, Pilot Jim Kelly, Mission
Specialists Charlie Camarda, Wendy Lawrence, Soichi Noguchi, Steve
Robinson, and Andy Thomas skillfully executed the 14-day mission in
outer space.
This Space Shuttle mission was the first since the Columbia disaster
two years ago. NASA learned a great deal from that accident, and this
test flight two months ago helped the space agency learn even more.
While in space, the crew completed three successful spacewalks, and
accomplished the first in-flight heat shield repairs on the Shuttle.
The two-week mission also encompassed the first ``back flip maneuver''
so that crew could take pictures of the underbelly of the Shuttle to
determine if there was damage to the vehicle during lift-off.
The Discovery crew also delivered more than 6 tons of needed supplies
and equipment to the International Space Station. While on the Station,
``spacewalkers'' Noguchi and Robinson replaced a failed gyroscope with
a new one, thus restoring full capability of the Station's attitude
control system. The crew also facilitated ``virtual visits'' from the
President of the United States and the Prime Minister of Japan.
Returning the Shuttle to flight was the first step toward meeting the
goals of the new Vision for Space Exploration--it helps America fulfill
its promise to our international partners to complete the International
Space Station. While the Shuttle's next return to space ,will be
delayed for a few months as engineers work to redesign the tiles on the
fuel tank, I am hopeful that we will soon be on our way back to the
Station.
Just this week, NASA administrator Michael Griffin unveiled detailed
plans for achieving the goal of returning to the moon by 2018 and
pushing on to Mars beyond that date. I am particularly pleased that the
plans include many crew safety mechanisms for the new space ship.
Astronauts like the ones we are honoring today, deserve our best
efforts to ensure their safe journey into space and return to earth.
Our hopes and dreams ride with them, and we must do all we can, at
whatever cost is necessary, to ensure their safety.
I look forward to working with my colleagues to help make the Vision
for Space Exploration a reality. With astronauts like the Discovery
team and specialists and staff at NASA, America will continue to push
frontiers and lead the world in space exploration and discovery.
Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to yield such time
as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, again, I thank my fellow Texan
for the time, and I rise to congratulate NASA and, of course, the
Discovery crew for the outstanding work and for the history that they
made.
It is history for the United States to be able to return to space.
Though, we have had a longstanding commitment, and NASA has been the
agency and arm and focal point of Americans', if you will, fascination
with space and science and the wonderment of exploration, it is
important to celebrate this Discovery crew, not only because of Eileen
Collins, but because of the bravery which they showed.
One of the issues we have been grappling with and working with since
the tragedy of both Challenger and Columbia is the issue of safety.
Even in the most scrutinized of Space Shuttle Discovery, it was
determined that there was a deficiency in the launch, and a difficult
posture was set for those who were now on board and in space. The cool-
headedness, the cohesion of the crew, the guiding hand of the commander
and the work of the Kennedy Space Center staff and the Johnson Space
Center staff and all of the others created this opportunity for a safe
return.
At the same time, I think what Discovery proved to us is that there
is no measure we should leave, no stone unturned as relates to safety,
and I look forward to my colleagues moving forward on hearings to
address the question of how we can be even more safe and move more
resources toward the question of safety and research.
So my salute to the Discovery crew for what they have done not only
for their places in history, but what they have done with respect to
the United States return to flight and our first step toward the
Nation's Vision for Space Exploration. We have now re-begun where we
started in the 1960s, with CAMRA. We have never given up hope. We have
never given up the light that space provides for our young people.
Might I say that I am excited by the interest of our committee in
working on funding sources to be able to encourage more young people in
America to take up the sciences; more girls, and certainly boys, but an
emphasis on young girls and young women to go into geology and biology
and chemistry and the earth sciences and astronomy and to be able to be
part of this new vision of science and exploration in the 21st century.
I thank the Discovery crew. I thank them for their place in history.
I thank them for the place in history they have put America and
Americans, and I thank them for helping us return to our vision and
that is the Nation's Vision for Space Exploration. Congratulations to
all and to their families.
Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution
441, congratulating the NASA STS-114 team on the successful completion
of the historic test flight to the International Space Station.
I join my colleagues in applauding Commander Eileen Collins and her
crew on the outstanding job they did onboard the Shuttle Discovery.
This 14-day journey was one of the most complex space missions in the
history of our Nation's space program. The crew successfully completed
three spacewalks, and accomplished the first in-flight repair of the
Shuttle's heat shield. They replaced a failed gyroscope onboard the
Space Station, helping restore the capability to control the Station's
position in orbit. The crew also successfully utilized the new Orbiter
Boom Sensor System for the first time. This boom system gives NASA an
unprecedented ability to examine the condition of the Shuttle once it
reaches orbit. And after an extended grounding of the Shuttle fleet,
the Discovery crew delivered more than 12,000 pounds of much needed
supplies and equipment to the Station. Discovery and its crew also
returned about 7,000 pounds of Station material back to Earth. All of
us are very proud of their heroism and resolve during their mission.
I also congratulate the NASA team on the ground who worked day and
night to ensure that this mission was a success, and as safe as
possible. In Congress, I have the privilege of representing NASA
employees and contractors at the Marshall Space Flight Center. I am
proud of their hard work and dedication to making this Discovery flight
as safe as possible.
Mr. Speaker, STS-114 was the first of two Return-to-Flight test
flights. And NASA collected an unprecedented amount of test data from
this flight. NASA will build on what it has learned from this Discovery
mission as it prepares for the second test flight. There is much work
yet to be done, but I believe that under the leadership of
Administrator Mike Griffin, NASA is moving along the correct path.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment to remember the brave
crewmembers of the Shuttle Columbia. Discovery's successful mission,
and the ongoing work towards the second Return-to-Flight test flight,
represents our nation's ongoing commitment to the Columbia crew's
spirit of exploration.
I strongly urge my colleagues to adopt this resolution.
Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House
Resolution 441, which congratulates the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration and the Space Shuttle Discovery's crew for their recent
14-day test flight. The mission was an important step in returning the
Shuttle to flight and toward meeting our obligations in completing the
International Space Station. The many NASA employees and contractors
who worked to make the flight safe and successful deserve our support
and praise.
[[Page H8126]]
The Shuttle's successful flight lays the foundation for an exciting
decade for NASA and an exciting time for everyone interested in space
science and exploration. I am especially looking forward to several
missions that NASA will undertake through the La Canada Flintridge-
based Jet Propulsion Laboratory. As my colleagues well know, I have the
privilege of representing JPL and I am a strong supporter of it here in
Congress. JPL' s missions have consistently generated public support
and are a mainstay in NASA's scientific portfolio.
JPL's continued management of NASA's Mars program, which for the last
year and a half has brought us the twin Rovers Spirit and Opportunity,
has resulted in unprecedented success. In addition, the planned 2007
launch of the Phoenix Mars Scout and the 2009 launch of the Mars
Science Laboratory will provide the country with a long-duration
science laboratory that represents a major leap in space exploration.
Specifically, MSL will collect soil samples and rock cores from Mars
and analyze them for organic compounds and environmental conditions
that could have supported microbial life in the past.
Through its work at JPL, NASA is also slated to begin two major
missions that will give us greater insight into the origins of our
universe. The first of these is the Space Interferometry Mission, or
SIM PlanetQuest. Scheduled for launch in 2012, SIM will determine the
positions and distances of stars several hundred times more accurately
than any previous program. This precision will allow us to measure the
distances to stars throughout the galaxy and to probe nearby stars for
Earth-sized planets. The second mission, the Europa Orbiter, will
discover whether an ocean exists beneath the surface of one of
Jupiter's most interesting moons. This mission should launch in 2015.
JPL is also poised to conduct a series of missions that will examine
Earth and lead to better predictions and understandings of our planet's
climate. These missions include the launch of CloudSat later this year;
the Ocean Surface Topography Mission and the Orbiting Carbon
Observatory in 2008; and the 2009 launch of Aquarius, which will
provide the first-ever global maps of salt concentrations on the
ocean's surface. These missions will provide valuable insight into our
planet's precipitation and weather patterns.
Each of JPL's current and future missions are an integral part of
NASA's overall space exploration plan. With JPL's missions and other
NASA initiatives, such as the agency's rollout of its new exploration
architecture for returning to the Moon, there can be no doubt the next
decade will be an exciting one.
In closing, Mr. Speaker, I want to again say that the most recent
Shuttle mission is just another example of what NASA is doing right. I
am pleased to join my colleagues today in congratulating the crew and
look forward to another successful Shuttle mission in the near future.
Mr. WELDON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues
to acknowledge the crew of STS-114 in their heroic mission to the
International Space Station this past summer. Their mission was watched
with awe and appreciation by the entire world. I am proud that so many
of my constituents work with NASA and especially the Human Space Flight
program.
Great nations explore. America has taken up this banner and has
committed itself to space exploration. We gain so much for our efforts.
Space is of such a vital interest to our Nation from an economic and
strategic vantage point. The Shuttle Discovery and her crew provided a
vital support and logistics mission to the ISS. Their mission was an
important part of our on-going exploration of space. I thank the crew
and all of those who made the mission a success.
We have a wonderful new Vision for Space Exploration that includes a
return to the Moon and eventually go onward to Mars. STS-114 played its
own small, but critical part in that journey.
Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the brave astronauts
of STS-114, Space Shuttle Discovery. These astronauts, and the entire
NASA team, should be very proud of their accomplishments.
The long hours of training and preparing paid off in the nearly
flawless execution of multiple spacewalks and many other critical tasks
on this mission, including delivering much needed supplies to the space
station and performing unprecedented in-flight repairs.
Americans all across this country were riveted by the adventures of
these men and women. In fact, there was so much interest that new
internet records were set: more than two-and-a-half million people
visited NASA's website over the course of this mission.
Many of those ``hits'' were children, tomorrow's explorers, who have
found new heroes and role models in the crew of STS-114. By showing our
children what they can accomplish, these astronauts inspire the next
generation and encourage them to focus on science, engineering and
technology--fields that are vital to our future economy and security.
The ability to inspire is, perhaps, the greatest benefit of our space
program and this Discovery crew has provided inspiration for all of us.
It is fitting that we honor the crew of STS-114 and all of the NASA
employees and contractors who are helping this Nation explore space. I
thus am proud to be an original cosponsor of H. Res. 441, and I urge
its adoption.
Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, heroes are those select few among
us who are endowed with courage and strength, those who risk life and
limb to further a cause greater than themselves. I rise today to honor
seven such heroes, the astronaut crew of STS-114.
These men and women should be very proud of what they accomplished on
this historic mission. Through their bravery and ingenuity they helped
bring our manned space program back to life. After two-and-a-half years
on the ground, we have finally returned to space to continue our
exploration into the unknown.
Though our shuttle program still faces many challenges in the months
and years to come, we are taking time today to acknowledge the progress
NASA has been made thus far. I would like to thank those responsible,
not just the astronauts, but the entire NASA team, thousands of
dedicated men and women at NASA centers across the country, for their
commitment.
In honoring the astronauts of STS-114, we should not forget those who
came before them. By continuing our exploration of space, this mission
continues their legacy. I am sure that the brave souls who gave their
lives aboard the Columbia would be very proud of this Discovery crew.
Their steps of progress will lead us into the next chapter of human
exploration.
Thank you and I urge members to suspend the rules and pass this
resolution.
Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 441.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
____________________