Mr. President, as the Senate considers funding for the International Space Station, I want to remind my colleagues about the achievements of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Since 1915, American aviators, astronauts, and spacecrafts have expanded human knowledge. The advancements made by NASA are found in virtually every aircraft in use today. One example, used by Continental Airlines, is a NASA-developed device that warns of dangerous wind-shear conditions. In addition, NASA made valuable contributions to medicine by allowing scientists to utilize microgravity conditions in space to grow larger breast cancer cells, allowing different growth stages of these cells to be studied.
NASA technology has produced a pacemaker that can be programmed from outside the body and developed instruments to measure bone loss and bone density without penetrating the skin. NASA research led to the development of a three-inch implant for diabetes that provides more precise control of blood sugar levels, thereby freeing diabetics from the burden of daily insulin injections. These are just a few of the scientific and medical advances developed from NASA technology.
A panel of experts headed by aerospace consultant Jay Chabrow recently concluded that the space station's cost through the assembly stage could be $24.7 billion, which is $3 billion more than NASA now projects. While the overrun projected in the Chabrow report is a concern, the estimate in the report is modest in historic terms. For example, the initial contract for the lunar excursion module was $350 million. By the end of the contract, the cost had escalated to $2.3 billion, seven times the original cost. For the entire Apollo, Mercury, and Gemini programs, NASA spent approximately $100 billion to reach the moon. These programs, much like the International Space Station, ventured into unknown territory and were considered inherently risky.
It is also important to note that while the panel indicated that there may be cost overruns and schedule delays, the panel also recognized that NASA's management of the Space Station has been "resourceful and effective" in addressing the many challenges that have resulted from this project. With over 400,000 pounds of flight hardware completed, NASA and its international partners believe that by the end of this year, over half a million pounds will be completed and the first two elements of the station will be in orbit. Although Russia has only been able to complete 95 percent of the module, the Russian government has reiterated its commitment to the station. However, NASA continues to evaluate other contingency plans to address possible delays by Russia.
Once completed, the International Space Station will be the most complex structure ever sent into orbit, encompassing a laboratory and living quarters the size of two football fields. As demonstrated by several experiments conducted on the Russian Mir space station, Skylab, and space shuttle flights, advancements in science will be enhanced by the International Space Station. These experiments have been used to determine or refine existing protein structure models, create new drugs to battle viruses, such as AIDS, and develop inhibitors, such as those used to alleviate the complication of inflammation associated with heart surgery.
Mr. President, as I have mentioned, the importance of the International Space Station is evident. The technological advancements that may be achieved by this project are monumental. I urge my colleagues to continue funding the International Space Station and maintain America's leadership in space research and exploration.
