[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 17891]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                           NASA AUTHORIZATION

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I rise in support of H.R. 1654, the NASA 
Authorization Act for fiscal years 2000, 2001, and 2002. Many of my 
colleagues and their staff's have worked hard on this legislation. This 
is a good bill. It ensures NASA is authorized at the appropriate level 
to continue its role in Space Flight and Exploration, Earth and Space 
Science, assembly and operations on the International Space Station, 
and Aeronautical Research.
  Over the last decade, the U.S. commercial space launch industry has 
lost its technological advantage and now holds only 30 percent of the 
worldwide space launch market. As a result, sensitive U.S. technology 
is often launched into space by either Chinese, Russian or French 
rockets, increasing the risk of unwarranted U.S. technology transfer to 
foreign nations. The delayed development of modern, less expensive 
launch systems in this country needs to be rectified. This high cost of 
space transportation has greatly curtailed U.S. efforts in space 
research, science and exploration. This bill includes important 
provisions to address this issue which I would like to highlight.
  Mr. President, NASA is currently conducting research programs, such 
as the X-33, X-34 and X-37, that could result in important 
technological advancements applicable to future reusable launch 
vehicles and reductions in space transportation costs. In addition, 
there are existing hardware and engine systems, that if evaluated, 
could make an immediate contribution to reducing the cost of access to 
space by a factor of 10. The information gained from these evaluations 
can be incorporated into design plans for the Spaceliner 100 series of 
vehicles and ultimately reduce the cost of access to space by a factor 
of one hundred. In the Commerce Committee, I amended the Senate NASA 
bill to add $150M for Fiscal Year 2000 to accelerate these future space 
launch programs by one year. Accelerating the efforts that gain us 
cheaper access to space will help the U.S. recapture the space launch 
business and save on future launch costs. American companies would not 
have to look overseas for cheaper launches, thereby minimizing our 
technology exposure to foreign governments.
  Also, I am pleased to see the portion of the Earth Science budget 
supporting NASA's Commercial Remote Sensing effort is sustained. These 
programs, managed by the NASA Stennis Space Center's Commercial Remote 
Sensing Program Office in Mississippi, are contributing to the birth 
and growth of a new international industry. Wall Street has predicted 
this industry will grow to the $10 billion level by 2010. NASA Stennis 
personnel working together with the private sector, university 
researchers and other Federal agencies are already producing viable 
commercial products. New efforts are underway to coordinate the 
potential impact of these commercial products with the Department of 
Transportation. I have been told by DOT officials that remote sensing 
technology infused in the right way to DOT's planning efforts could 
result in significant savings in highway planning and construction. 
That is a very good potential payback for a small investment in the 
commercialization of remote sensing technology.
  Mr. President, this is a good bill. I hope that the Senate's 
differences with the House can be resolved quickly so that the bill can 
be presented to the President for signature.

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