Rod Grams: “Minnesotans were there at the dawn of the Space Age, and I look forward to the role our state will play as the next…”

“Minnesotans were there at the dawn of the Space Age, and I look forward to the role our state will play as the next chapter of America's space history, the era of the International Space Station, is written. I believe the nation's space programs, such as the International Space Station, represent important investments in America's future. The scientific and technological benefits of this ambitious initiative are impressive and will produce a high rate of return on the American taxpayers' investment in aeronautical and space programs. Among these benefits, the space station will provide new insight into industrial research for air and water purification, waste management and recycling, computer technology, and environmental engineering. Most notable is the progress being made in the biomedical field. The promise of a long-term, zero gravity environment has scientists poised to conduct research into the development of cures for diabetes, cancer, emphysema, and immune system disorders. Moreover, the study and eventual findings of why astronauts who spend extended periods of time in space often experience weakening of their hearts and blood vessels may lead to the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.”