Date: 2003-02-05
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. let me express my appreciation to the leadership for bringing this forth and to say how important it is that we take the time to give recognition to those heroic persons who did lose their lives. I am very certain. however. that they did not lose their lives in vain. This space exploration research program has been one of the most successful research programs in the history of this country. and I know that we will investigate well to see what happened and improve upon it. I also know that. over 40 years ago. the foresight of persons that came along before us caused us to get into this type of research. We also owe those leaders some homage for their foresight. and I am hoping that we will then have the foresight to continue this type of research. The scientific technological advances made possible by space research include much: arteriosclerosis detection. ultrasound scanners. the automatic insulin pump. portable Xray devices. invisible braces. dental arch wire. palate surgery technology. clean room apparel. implantable heart aid. the MRI. the bone analyzer and the cataract surgery tools and j0) and on. the digital imaging breast biopsy system. So many. many lives have been saved because we have lost a few in trying. The lifesaving light that saves lives through the application of lighting technology initially developed for plant growth experiments on space shuttle missions. The doctors at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee use lightemitting diodes in a treatment called photodynamic therapy. a form of chemotherapy to treat brain tumors in children and aid significantly in woundhealing treatment. A consumer product. the toy for tots. many. many toys have been made because of that. that has increased the economy. and I could go on. with the artificial heart device known as the miniaturized ventricular assist pump. The vehicle tracking system. and many of us drive cars that have the nightextended sight vision. came from space exploration. Mr. Speaker. I will end by simply saying the best way to show our appreciation for these heroes is to continue this research and be a visionary for the future. Without vision. we perish. Human space exploration is inherently risky. Distance. speed and an environment that can not support human life combine to make human space flights particularly precarious. Unfortunately the world has new evidence of the dangers associated with space exploration. Millions watched as Images of a singular. brilliant point of light in the sky became two. three. and four points of light as Space Shuttle Columbia broke apart over my home State of Texas. I join the rest of the country and the world in mourning the seven brave astronauts whom w e lost in this national tragedy. The outpouring of sympathy from the citizens of the world is recognition that the crew heroically put their lives on the line In the name of science and research. More than a decade ago. January 28th. 1986. our countrys space program was dealt another tragedy as we lost the crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger. The findings of the "Report of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident" (referred to as the Rogers Commission Report) have changed NASA procedures to make human space flight safer. It is incdmbent upon the federal government to conduct a vigorous and comprehensive investigation to uncover and alleviate the events that led to Columbia accident. I pledge to do what I can to help our space program recover from this terrible setback so these important endeavors can flourish in the future. As a Senior member of the Science Committee. I will work closely with my House colleagues to assist NASA and Harold Gehman Jr. who will lead the special investigative commission. Februay 5. 2003 I am the ranking member of the Science Subcommittee on Basic Research. In this important capacity. I have taken a major leadership role regarding Americas commitment to technological development and scientific research and application. As such. I am a firm believer that the United States will continue our space program that has accomplished so much in the areas of research and science. This important and beneficial program is essential to advancing technology. Specific technological advances made possible by space research include the arteriosclerosis detection. ultrasound scanners. automatic insulin pump. portable xray device. invisible braces. dental arch wire. palate surgery technology. clean room apparel. implantable heart aid. MRI. bone analyzer. and cataract surgery tools. The Space Shuttle Program has yielded many lifesaving medical tests. accessibility advances for the physically challenged. and products that make our lives more safe and enjoyable. Such as: The Digital Imaging Breast Biopsy System developed from Space Telescope technology incorporates the advanced Charged Coupled Devise. a high tech silicon chip. used as part of a digital camera system that sees the breast structure with xray vision. The CCD images breast tissue more clearly and efficiently through a procedure known as stereotactic core thenneedle biopsy. With the help of companies like FIDE and LORAD. this procedure provides patient with noninvasive procedure which reduces pain. scarring. radiation exposure. time and cost. The Space Shuttle was the vehicle used to assist in the space telescope repair mission and development of the technology. Lifesaving Light Saves Lives through application of a special lighting technology initially developed for plant growth experiments on Space Shuttle missions. Doctors at University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee use light emitting diodes in a treatment called photodynamic therapy. a form of chemotherapy. to treat brain tumors in children and aid significantly in would healing treatment. A Consumer Product Toy for Tots was developed using NASA windtunnel and aerodynamic expertise from the Space Shuttle program. Hasbro. Inc. improved the flying distances and looptoloop stunts for its toy gliders designed for a child to fly. Public Safety takes a Byte out of Crime using image processing technology initially used to analyze Space Shuttle launch video and study meteorological images. This Space Shuttle mission technology helps law enforcement agencies improve cjime solving videos. An Artificial Heart device known as the miniaturized ventricular assist pump. developed by NASA and renowned heart surgeon Dr. Michael DeBakey. was derived from technology used in Space Shuttle fuel pumps. The tiny pump2 inches long. 1 inch in diameter and weighing less than four ounces has been successfully Implanted into more than 20 patients. A Vehicle Tracking System tracks information originally used onboard Space Shuttle missions now helps track vehicles on Earth. This commercial spinoff allows vehicles to transmit a signal back to a home base. Municipalities today use the software to track and reassign emergency and public works vehicles. It also is used by vehicle fleet operations. such as taxis. armored cars and vehicles carrying hazardous cargo. As witnessed. the Space Shuttle can be configured to carry many different types of equipment and scientific experiments. The Space Shuttle is essential In the assembly of the International Space Station (advancing life sciences & technology through longduration missions) and repairing and servicing the Hubble Space Telescope (enabling many new discoveries in Space Science). As an enabling function. the Space Shuttle is fully engaged in providing services for earth and physical science research. The Space" Shuttle also engages the private sector in the development of space by providing flight opportunities for industry. academia and government to conduct applied research relevant to NASAs mission through access to the space environment. I will foresee that cooperative activities with the National Institutes of Health (NIH). the National Science Foundation (NSF). the Department of Defense (DoD) and other U.S. agencies will continue to advance knowledge of health. medicine. science and technology. STS107. which was lost on February 1. 2003. was a 16day mission dedicated to research in physical. life. and space sciences. conducted in approximately 80 separate experiments. comprised of hundreds of samples and test points. With two Americans and a Russian still stationed at the International Space Station. it Is Imperative that this program not come to a halt. This most unfortunate and tragic loss of five men and two women. representing a mosaic of races and nationalities. will be mourned and these great American heroes will not be forgotten.