Tom Harkin: “The microgravity kind of research that has been talked about can be done on the shuttle. We don't need a space station…”

“The microgravity kind of research that has been talked about can be done on the shuttle. We don't need a space station to do that. Or it can be done other ways. In 1994, Mr. President, I read an article that was in Discover magazine and became entranced with it. Just today, I had a long talk on the phone with Ed Belbruno, a former NASA mathematician. He has devised a new way of space exploration. I won't go into it. I don't have the time. I think it is fascinating, however. Because of his theories, we could use 40 percent less energy to go to the Moon and beyond--40 percent less--and it has already been proven. He did it once already in the early nineties. The Japanese space agency is looking at it more, and so are the Europeans. I am sure my friend from Ohio will recognize it by using what we call the ``weak stability boundary theory.'' I won't go into all the theories of it, but physically it is fascinating about how we can use the gravity of the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth to launch vehicles from here to the Moon or to Mars or beyond and use 40 percent less energy. What that means is today we have the ability to return to the Moon and beyond using a lot less than we did before. Think of the excitement in that. Think of what we can do with exploration if we actually build a Moon base. Think of what that will mean in terms of scientific research and technological advancements.”