[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 90 (Wednesday, July 12, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1380]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         TRIBUTE TO NASA ON SPACE SHUTTLE ``DISCOVERY'' MISSION

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                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 12, 2006

  Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce a resolution 
commending the people of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration (NASA) for the latest mission of the Space Shuttle 
Discovery. Successfully launched on July 4 this mission, known as STS-
121, marks the second mission on the Return to Flight sequence. STS-121 
originally was scheduled to perform just two space walks. However, due 
to the overall success of the launch, the mission was extended from 12 
to 13 days, allowing for an additional space walk.
  Among the other tasks that will be preformed on this mission are 
tests of shuttle safety improvements to build on findings from 
Discovery's flight last year, including a redesign of the shuttle's 
external fuel tank's foam insulation, in-flight inspection of the 
shuttle's heat shield, improved imagery during launch and the ability 
to launch a shuttle rescue mission. The External Tank, which underwent 
work prior to the mission to reduce foam loss, performed well this time 
especially early in the flight when a light weight piece of foam could 
severely damage the tile or wing leading edge, but nothing like that 
happened this time. The five instances of foam loss that were 
experienced all occurred after the critical release time. The largest 
foam loss on the mission, which occurred in front of one of the ice/
frost ramps on the external tank, was calculated to be .055 pounds. The 
mass limit in that area is .25 pounds, meaning that the loss was not 
even a quarter of the way to the limit. NASA is very pleased with the 
performance of the tank, as it is a great improvement from last year's 
STS-114 mission.
  The STS-121 mission will also bolster the International Space Station 
by making a key repair and delivering more than 28,000 pounds of 
equipment and supplies, as well as adding a third crew member to the 
Space Station.
  STS-121 is NASA's most photographed mission in shuttle history as 
more than 100 high definition, digital, video, and film cameras are 
helping to assess whether any debris comes off the external tank during 
the shuttle's launch, while four new video added to the solid rocket 
boosters.
  Mr. Speaker, the success of STS-121 is a tribute to the skills and 
dedication of all NASA employees, especially the Space Shuttle 
Discovery's crew of Colonel Steve Lindsey; Commander Mark Kelly; Piers 
Sellers, PhD; Lt. Colonel Mike Fossum; Commander Lisa Nowak; Stephanie 
Wilson; and Thomas Reiter.
  What philosopher Ayn Rand wrote of the moon landing in 1969 applies 
to the STS-121 and all of NASA's missions: ``Think of what was required 
to achieve that mission: think of the unpitying effort; the merciless 
discipline; the courage; the responsibility of relying on one's 
judgment; the days, nights and years of unswerving dedication to a 
goal; the tension of the unbroken maintenance of a full, clear mental 
focus; and the honesty. It took the highest, sustained acts of virtue 
to create in reality what had only been dreamt of for millennia.'' I 
encourage all of my colleagues and all Americans to join me in 
commending NASA for completing STS-121 mission, and all of NASA's work.

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