[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 458 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 458

Congratulating the SpaceShipOne team for achieving a historic milestone 
                         in human space flight.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 10, 2004

Mr. Bingaman (for himself, Mr. McCain, Mr. Hollings, Mr. Brownback, Mr. 
Inhofe, and Mr. Domenici) submitted the following resolution; which was 
                        considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Congratulating the SpaceShipOne team for achieving a historic milestone 
                         in human space flight.

Whereas the Ansari X Prize was established with private capital to jumpstart the 
        space tourism industry, inspire and educate students, focus public 
        attention and investment capital on this new business frontier, and 
        challenge explorers and rocket scientists around the world;
Whereas the $10,000,000 Ansari X Prize was modeled after the $25,000 Orteig 
        Prize won by trans-Atlantic aviator Charles Lindbergh in 1927;
Whereas on October 4, 2004, SpaceShipOne, designed by Burt Rutan and flown first 
        by Mike Melvill and later by Brian Binnie, won the Ansari X Prize by 
        being the first privately funded space vehicle to depart from and safely 
        return to Earth twice within 2 weeks;
Whereas SpaceShipOne broke the previous record for maximum altitude achieved by 
        a plane, which was set by the X-15 in 1963;
Whereas the SpaceShipOne flights represent a historic accomplishment for 
        humanity; and
Whereas future achievements in commercial space flight will be stimulated by an 
        ongoing annual competition for an X Prize Cup, beginning in 2006 at 
        White Sands Missile Range outside Las Cruces, New Mexico: Now, therefore 
        be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) congratulates the SpaceShipOne team led by Bert Rutan, 
        and test pilots Mike Melvill and Brian Binnie, for their 
        historic achievement in human space flight;
            (2) recognizes the contributions of all members and 
        supporters of the X Prize Foundation and the SpaceShipOne team, 
        the efforts of which were instrumental in this accomplishment; 
        and
            (3) encourages the continuation of efforts towards 
        practical commercial space flight through future X Prize Cup 
        and other competitions.
                                 <all>