[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 646 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 646

 Honoring the life and legacy of Lieutenant General Thomas P. Stafford.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 16, 2024

   Mr. Lankford (for himself and Mr. Mullin) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Honoring the life and legacy of Lieutenant General Thomas P. Stafford.

Whereas, on September 17, 1930, Lieutenant General Thomas Patten Stafford 
        (referred to in this preamble as ``General Stafford'') was born in 
        Weatherford, Oklahoma, to Thomas and Mary Ellen Stafford;
Whereas, in 1952, General Stafford graduated with honors from the United States 
        Naval Academy, after which he joined the newly formed Air Force;
Whereas, in 1958, General Stafford entered the United States Air Force 
        Experimental Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California;
Whereas, in 1959, General Stafford graduated from the United States Air Force 
        Experimental Test Pilot School, receiving the A.B. Honts Award as the 
        outstanding graduate, and thereafter became an instructor and wrote 
        flight performance and aerodynamics textbooks for the school;
Whereas, in 1962, General Stafford was chosen among the second group of 
        astronauts by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
        (referred to in this preamble as ``NASA'') to serve in projects Gemini 
        and Apollo;
Whereas, in 1965, General Stafford developed techniques for and piloted Gemini 
        VI, completing the first rendezvous in space;
Whereas, in 1966, General Stafford commanded Gemini IX, demonstrating 3 
        different types of rendezvous, including the rendezvous that would be 
        used in future Apollo lunar missions;
Whereas, in 1969, General Stafford commanded Apollo 10, piloted the first lunar 
        module to descend within 9 miles of the Moon, designated the first lunar 
        landing site, performed reconnaissance of future Apollo landing sites, 
        and completed each of the essential steps in the final preparation for 
        the upcoming Moon landing, including the first rendezvous around the 
        Moon;
Whereas General Stafford and his crew won the National Academy of Television 
        Arts and Sciences Special Trustees Award (commonly known as an ``Emmy 
        Award'') for initiating development of and taking the first colored 
        images from space;
Whereas, during the return of the Apollo 10 mission, General Stafford set the 
        record for the fastest speed traveled by a human, at 24,791 miles per 
        hour (or Mach 36), which, as of 2024, is still the record and is 
        documented in the Guinness World Book of Records;
Whereas, in 1975, General Stafford took command of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project 
        for his final space mission, during which General Stafford and Cosmonaut 
        Alexei Leonov shook hands during docking, completing the first 
        international space flight and helping to diminish Cold War tensions;
Whereas General Stafford was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in 
        the Apollo-Soyuz mission;
Whereas, in 1975, General Stafford left NASA to serve as the commander of the 
        Air Force Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California;
Whereas General Stafford, as Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Research, 
        Development, and Acquisition, established requirements for, and 
        initiated development of, the first stealth attack aircraft, the F117A, 
        which was the only stealth attack aircraft in the world for 25 years, 
        and initiated the Air Force roadmap for the air superiority fighter that 
        is still in use in 2024;
Whereas General Stafford, just before his retirement in 1979, wrote the 
        specifications for, and initiated the development of, the Advanced 
        Technology Bomber, now known as the B-2 Stealth Bomber, the only stealth 
        bomber force in the world as of 2024, and initiated the development of 
        the AGM-129 Advanced Cruise Missile;
Whereas, from 1991 to 1993, General Stafford led the efforts of NASA to repair 
        and service the Hubble Space Telescope and was presented with the NASA 
        Public Service Award;
Whereas, in 2011, General Stafford was awarded the Wright Brothers Memorial 
        Trophy for pioneering achievements that have led the way to the Moon, to 
        greater international cooperation in space, and to a safer United 
        States;
Whereas General Stafford completed more than 507 hours in space flight time and 
        flew more than 127 types of aircraft and helicopters during his career, 
        along with 4 kinds of spacecraft and 3 types of boosters;
Whereas General Stafford advised several Presidents on space policy and served 
        as the Chairman of the NASA Advisory Task Force on the International 
        Space Station;
Whereas General Stafford gave a lifetime of service to the United States--

    (1) as a member of the Armed Forces;

    (2) as an astronaut and commander at NASA; and

    (3) while serving in other positions in the executive branch;

Whereas General Stafford contributed immensely to the space race and the 
        advancement of the United States in space policy and exploration; and
Whereas General Stafford demonstrated extraordinary dedication and service to 
        the United States throughout his distinguished career: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) honors the life and legacy of Lieutenant General Thomas 
        P. Stafford for his contributions to the Armed Forces and the 
        space mission of the United States; and
            (2) extends its heartfelt condolences to the family and 
        friends of Lieutenant General Thomas P. Stafford.
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