IV 
109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 445 
Commending the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on the 
completion of the Space Shuttle Discovery’s mission. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 12, 2006 
Mr. PAUL submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on Science 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Commending the National Aeronautics and Space Adminis-
tration on the completion of the Space Shuttle Discov-
ery’s mission. 
Whereas on July 4, 2006, the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration performed a successful launch of 
the Space Shuttle Discovery; 
Whereas, due to the overall success of the launch, the Mission 
was able to be extended from 12 to 13 days, allowing for 
an additional space walk to the 2 originally scheduled; 
Whereas this mission, known as STS–121, marks the second 
mission on the Return to Flight sequence; 
Whereas the Space Shuttle Discovery’s crew consisted of 
Colonel Steve Lindsey; Commander Mark Kelly; Piers 
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Sellers, Ph.D; Lt. Colonel Mike Fossum; Commander 
Lisa Nowak; Stephanie Wilson; and Thomas Reiter; 
Whereas STS–121 tested shuttle safety improvements to 
build on findings from Discovery’s flight last year, includ-
ing 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; 
Whereas 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, 
with the five instances of foam loss all occurring after the 
critical release time, and with the largest foam loss on 
the mission, which occurred in front of one of the ice/ 
frost ramps on the external tank, calculated to be .055 
pounds when the mass limit in that area is .25 pounds, 
meaning that the loss was not even a quarter of the way 
to the limit, and the National Aeronautics and Space Ad-
ministration is very pleased with the performance of the 
tank, as it is a great improvement from last year’s STS– 
114 mission; 
Whereas the STS–121 mission will bolster the International 
Space Station by making a key repair and delivering 
more than 28,000 pounds of equipment and supplies, as 
well as add a third crew member to the International 
Space Station; 
Whereas the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
has developed new procedures to ensure gap fillers be-
tween the heat-shielding tiles to make them stay in place 
and pose no hazard on reentry, and technicians removed 
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and replaced approximately 5,000 of the shuttle’s 16,000 
gap fillers prior to launch; 
Whereas STS–121 will be the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration’s most photographed mission in 
shuttle history as more than 100 high definition, digital, 
video, and film cameras will help assess whether any de-
bris comes off the external tank during the shuttle’s 
launch, while 4 new videos have been added to the solid 
rocket boosters; 
Whereas the success of STS–121 is a tribute to the skills and 
dedication of the shuttle crew and all National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration employees; 
Whereas all Americans benefit from the scientific advances 
gained through the Space Shuttle program; and 
Whereas the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
plays a vital role in America’s national defense: Now, 
therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration is com-
mended for— 
(1) completing the STS–121 mission; and 
(2) its pioneering work in space exploration 
which is strengthening the Nation and benefitting all 
Americans. 
Æ 
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