A significant milestone for the International Space Station was completed July 25 when the Russian service module Zvezda flawlessly locked down to the ISS orbiter after more than a year’s delay.

Via computer, the fledgling space station hit its growth spurt at 8:44 p.m. EDT over central Asia. Even though ISS officials were smiling when all systems received a green light, NASA officials now have to keep the momentum going as production ramps up. “The heat is on us now to keep the schedule on track for finishing the station,” said U.S. astronaut William Shepherd.

If all goes as planned, ISS should become visible in the night sky by October 2001. Only the moon, Jupiter and Venus will outshine it.

For now, the next big milestone will materialize Oct. 30 when the first ISS crew is slated for launch aboard a Soyuz rocket.

Less than 24 hours after the docking, U.S. Rep. Ralph Hall (D-Texas) was optimistic the docking will pave the way for restored NASA funding and program initiatives.

Speaking at the Space Transportation Association breakfast on Capitol Hill July 26, the Science Committee member discussed his thoughts on the NASA budget and his forecast for the next congressional session.

“I expect that NASA’s space launch initiatives to fully be restored in the NASA budget,” Hall said. “In addition, I feel that station and space shuttle safety allocations will also be fully funded.”

Likewise, Hall expressed much optimism to the 50 aerospace industry breakfast attendees for NASA programs to move forward aggressively with focus on ISS and space exploration. “I think we really need to plan space exploration to Mars again,” he said. “We can at least put it on the tube while we continue with ISS.”

Unfortunately beyond ISS near-term planned missions and the NASA budget, Hall does not anticipate any further commercial space milestone news to cross his desk. “We probably won’t see any major space-related initiatives until after the November elections and the new Congress is in place,” he added.