December 22, 2006 — Reston, VA — The following statement can be attributed to American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) President Roger Simpson:
“While all of the missions to complete the International Space Station are challenging undertakings, STS-116 will certainly stand-out as one of the toughest. Its success is therefore one of the sweetest. Rewiring the station’s power system and leaving a permanent set-up required both engineering prowess and stamina. The astronauts faced lengthy spacewalks and physical manipulation of sensitive equipment. The fact that a fourth, unplanned spacewalk was accomplished displays the flexibility and vitality of the program. We congratulate the crew of STS-116, NASA and its partners on a successful mission.”
Headquartered in suburban Washington, DC, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) serves over 35,000 members in 65 regional sections and 79 countries. AIAA membership is drawn from all levels of industry, academia, private research organizations, and government and focuses on emerging technologies in aviation, space and defense. For more information visit www.aiaa.org.
