U.S. SENATOR KAY BAlLEY HUTCHISON

From those first suspenseful launches in the 1960s, I have been an unabashed supporter of this country's space program. The National Aeronautics andSpace Administtation (NASA) represents Amenca at its best--forward looking and inventive, committed to the advance of mankind as well as science.

On July 21 the Senate Commerce Committee, of which I am a member, took another step toward our future in space when it approved a bill authorizing NASA to proceed with the next stage of exploration: the space station.

And it wasn't a sure thing. A huge question mark had been hovering over space station funding for months. But the recently approved legislation satisfactorily resolves the problem of space station funding. It will provide a consistent level of support through the construction period, allowing NASA to bring the space station to completion on time and within its budget.

This is a vital project, because the race for technological leadership continues to be an international competition. Why should families struggling to make ends meet be concerned with maintaining America's technological pre eminence? Because, it means our children's opportunities will continue to expand. It means that new discoveries will blossom into new products, and the industries which spring up to manufacture those products will offer new, well paying jobs.

This isn't a gamble, it's a sure bet. NASA and the scientific community that has grown up around it have created a veritable treasure trove of research and technology--and made life better in the United States and the world.

Just a few examples: The $400 million business that flowed from cordless, re-chargeable power tools was derived from lunar landing machine mobile power source technology; Technology used for orbital navigation translated into computer software technology, a $250 million-a-year market; A $1 billion market for a product that binds lubricants to industrial diamonds is being tapped by U.S. companies using NASA technoloy. The space program has generated more than 30,000 such spin-offs, including Teflon, glass cookware, fiber optic networks, water purification systems, digital watches and high-speed computers.

NASA medical spin-offs include advanced pacemakers based on technology developed to enhance satellite communications, body-imaging technologies such as MIR and CAT scan, wheelchair technology and automobile adaptations for the disabled derived from lunar-rover technology. The bottom line to America's taxpayers is that the returns have been far beyond the investment--jobs and quality of life.

This summers Hollywood blockbuster, "Apollo 13," reminded us of how important it is to continue America's mission in space--and of the sacrifices so many have made to put and keep us there. The space station, without doubt, will be a bonus for our society. It will allow America to continue its historic surge into space, and eventually pay off in numerous ways for all of us: In pure science, medical research and technology which will lead to a brighter economic future for everyone in America.