[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2860]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO BOEING ENGINEERING TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                    HON. ROBERT E. (BUD) CRAMER, JR.

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 26, 2004

  Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I have the honor to represent NASA's 
Marshall Space Flight Center and numerous space contractors. Throughout 
North Alabama, scientists and engineers are working diligently to 
create the necessary technology to take humans and cargo into space. In 
addition, the innovative research and development that is being done 
and managed by the Marshall Space Flight Center and its partners is 
having significant and positive impact on our Nation's quality of life.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the members of Boeing's Space 
Launch Initiative TA-2 Self-Reacting Friction Stir Welding Cryogenic 
Tank Demonstration Team. Recently, these engineers from Huntsville, 
Alabama and Huntington Beach, California, successfully joined two 
twenty-seven foot diameter aluminum barrels together using a new 
process that utilizes friction rather than traditional welding methods. 
This successful test at the Marshall Space Flight Center was the 
largest test of the circumferential self-reacting friction stir 
welding. Boeing officials recognized this significant achievement by 
awarding this engineering team with the Boeing Silver Phantom Award.
  This process will help NASA to overcome many technical obstacles that 
it will face during its ambitious exploration plans. By using friction, 
rather than electrical or gas fusion methods, the weld is significantly 
stronger and performed at a higher quality and lower cost. This process 
enables a wider range of options as NASA considers designs for future 
space launch vehicles.
  Mr. Speaker, I close by sending my sincere congratulations to the 
Self-Reacting Friction Stir Welding Cryogenic Tank Demonstration Team 
for winning Boeing's Silver Phantom Award. I am proud to recognize 
their hard work and dedication that led to this important technical 
achievement.

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