[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 591 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 591

 Recognizing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 
 for the historic touchdown of the Phoenix Mars Lander during its 50th 
                           anniversary year.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 11, 2008

Mr. Brown submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
           Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 
 for the historic touchdown of the Phoenix Mars Lander during its 50th 
                           anniversary year.

Whereas the Phoenix Mars Lander (Phoenix) touched down successfully on Mars on 
        May 25, 2008;
Whereas the Phoenix landing was the first successful soft landing on Mars in 
        over 30 years;
Whereas this achievement occurred during the National Aeronautics and Space 
        Administration's (NASA) 50th year of scientific and technological 
        excellence, and 47 years to the day after President Kennedy challenged 
        the Nation to put a man on the moon;
Whereas the successful Phoenix landing is the result of years of planning, 
        analyzing, and testing conducted by the dedicated men and women of NASA;
Whereas less than 50 percent of all previous lander missions have made it safely 
        to the Mars planetary surface;
Whereas Phoenix is the first mission in NASA's Mars Scout program, a series of 
        innovative and lower-cost spacecraft that will complement major 
        missions;
Whereas Phoenix will be the first mission to collect meteorological data in the 
        Martian arctic;
Whereas the mission will study the history of the planet in its water and ice, 
        monitor weather of the polar region, and investigate whether the 
        subsurface environment in the far-northern plains of Mars has ever been 
        favorable for sustaining microbial life;
Whereas this data will allow scientists to accurately model Mars's past climate 
        and predict future weather processes;
Whereas this data will increase our knowledge of the existence and nature of 
        habitable zones on Mars;
While this data is instrumental in achieving the science goals of NASA's long-
        term Mars Exploration Program;
Whereas NASA Glenn Research Center's support to past Mars missions has enabled 
        the continuing scientific exploration of Mars; and
Whereas the Glenn Research Center's contributions to NASA's Human Research 
        Program play a vital role in providing solutions to critical problems 
        that place human exploration missions and their crews at risk: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the National Aeronautics and Space 
        Administration (NASA) for 50 years of scientific and 
        technological excellence;
            (2) recognizes NASA for the historic landing of the Phoenix 
        Mars Lander;
            (3) recognizes the importance of the Phoenix mission to 
        NASA's long-term Mars Exploration Program;
            (4) recognizes the importance of contributions made by NASA 
        Glenn Research Center to the NASA space program, including to 
        Mars and moon missions; and
            (5) recognizes the importance of NASA's Human Research 
        Program, and Glenn Research Center's contributions to such 
        program, to the health and safety of all NASA astronauts.
                                 <all>