[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 119 (Thursday, September 21, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S9893]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               SPACE SHUTTLE ``ATLANTIS'' STS-115 MISSION

  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, today, September 21, 2006, 
marked the successful conclusion of the STS-115 Space Shuttle Atlantis 
mission with its safe landing at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. 
This 12-day mission was the 116th shuttle mission and the 19th to visit 
the International Space Station. STS-115 marked the resumption of 
International Space Station construction for the first time since 2002. 
The Atlantis crew delivered and installed a large space station truss 
segment, two solar arrays and associated equipment, significantly 
increasing the electrical power generation capability on the space 
station. STS-115 included three critical spacewalks to install the 
truss and solar panels, laying the groundwork for the future doubling 
in size of the space station.
  I applaud the skill, bravery, and accomplishments of the STS-115 
crew--Commander Brent Jett, pilot Christopher Ferguson, and space 
walking mission specialists Daniel Burbank, Steven MacLean, Heidemarie 
Stefanyshyn-Piper, and Joseph Tanner. This successfu mission is a 
testament to the thousands of people who work on the Space Shuttle and 
Space Station Programs.
  We must continue to fly space shuttle in order to complete the 
construction of the International Space Station, honor commitments to 
our international partners, and utilize this laboratory for its 
intended purpose--extending our presence in space and increasing our 
understanding of the space environment for future explorers. Equally 
important, we must work together to preserve the workforce that will 
soon become the backbone of the new Orion crew exploration vehicle and 
the next human space project.

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