SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 19--CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE APOLLO 11 MOON LANDING; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 94
(Senate - June 05, 2019)
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[Pages S3265-S3266]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 19--CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF
THE APOLLO 11 MOON LANDING
Mr. CORNYN (for himself and Mr. Brown) submitted the following
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation:
S. Con. Res. 19
Whereas, on May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy, Jr.,
before a joint session of Congress, declared, ``Now it is
time to take longer strides--time for a great new American
enterprise--time for this Nation to take a clearly leading
role in space achievement, which in many ways may hold the
key to our future on Earth'', setting the goal of sending
astronauts to the Moon and returning them safely to the
Earth;
Whereas the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(in this preamble referred to as ``NASA'') mobilized and
established the Apollo space program to meet the goal set by
President Kennedy;
Whereas the Apollo space program built on the achievements
of the prior space programs of NASA, including the Mercury
and Gemini missions;
Whereas the successful Moon landing honored the tragic
sacrifice of every astronaut whose life had previously been
lost in the service of United States spaceflight research,
including--
(1) Roger B. Chaffee, Virgil I. ``Gus'' Grissom, and Edward
H. White II, the astronauts whose lives were lost during pre-
flight tests for Apollo 1; and
(2) Theodore C. Freeman, Charles A. Bassett II, Elliot See,
Jr., Robert H. Lawrence, Jr., Michael J. Adams, and Clifton
C. Williams, Jr.;
Whereas the crew of the Apollo 11 mission consisted of--
(1) Neil Armstrong, Mission Commander;
(2) Edwin E. ``Buzz'' Aldrin, Lunar Module Pilot; and
(3) Michael Collins, Command Module Pilot;
Whereas James A. Lovell, Jr., Fred W. Haise, Jr., and
William A. Anders stood ready to support or stand in for the
Apollo 11 crew;
[[Page S3266]]
Whereas, on July 16, 1969, the Apollo 11 crew launched from
the NASA Launch Operations Center, now known as the John F.
Kennedy Space Center, aboard a Saturn V rocket;
Whereas, on July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin
landed the Eagle Lunar Module on the surface of the Moon, and
Neil Armstrong said to Mission Control in Houston, Texas,
``Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.'';
Whereas, when Neil Armstrong took the first step onto the
Moon, he declared, ``That's one small step for a man, one
giant leap for mankind.'';
Whereas Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin planted the flag of
the United States in lunar soil, recording the achievement of
the country as the first to land on the Moon;
Whereas Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin placed a plaque on
the Moon that reads, ``We came in peace for all mankind'',
recording the peaceful, scientific intent of the Apollo
missions;
Whereas the Apollo 11 crew collected lunar samples and
conducted experiments to gain a better understanding of the
composition of the Moon and conditions on its surface;
Whereas the Lunar Laser Ranging Retroreflector installed by
the Apollo 11 crew is still used to measure the distance of
the Moon from the surface of the Earth;
Whereas the success of the Apollo 11 Moon landing was due
to the skill, dedication, and collective effort of tens of
thousands of workers, scientists, engineers, and contractors
of the United States;
Whereas the trajectory calculations of Katherine Johnson
and other mathematicians in the computer pool at NASA were
critical to the design of the Apollo 11 mission and the
rendezvous of the Apollo 11 Lunar Lander with the Command and
Service Module in lunar orbit;
Whereas the Apollo 11 mission demonstrated the focus and
capability of the scientific community of the United States
and established the United States as the world leader in
space exploration;
Whereas the Apollo 11 Moon landing was broadcasted live
over radio and television to millions across the world;
Whereas, 50 years later, the Apollo 11 Moon landing
continues to inspire national scientific efforts in space,
medicine, and other fields; and
Whereas the knowledge and experience gained from the Apollo
space program continues to inform missions to Mars, the far
reaches of the solar system, and beyond: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives
concurring), That Congress--
(1) celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon
landing;
(2) honors the bravery and skill of the crew of Apollo 11,
Neil Armstrong, Edwin E. ``Buzz'' Aldrin, and Michael
Collins;
(3) commends the efforts of all individuals of the United
States who contributed to the achievement of the Apollo 11
Moon landing, exemplifying a cooperative effort on a national
scale that continues to inspire scientific progress; and
(4) supports the continued leadership of the United States
in the exploration and utilization of space through human
spaceflight.
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