[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 67 (Friday, May 22, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E948]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SPACE DAY CELEBRATION

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 21, 1998

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in recognition of Space Day, 
a global celebration of the extraordinary achievements, benefits, and 
opportunities presented by the exploration and use of space. It was 
this week twenty-seven years ago that President Kennedy issued his 
challenge to land a man on the Moon.
  Recently, HBO ran a twelve part series, ``From the Earth to the 
Moon.'' This is the story of humankind's commitment and dedication to 
meet that challenge and its triumphant success. The words ``one small 
step for man, one giant leap for mankind,'' first spoken by Neil 
Armstrong from the Sea of Tranquility in July 1969, will be remembered 
for generations by people everywhere as the nations of the world begin 
to work together for peace in space.
  Our space technology evolved from rockets of destruction in World War 
II to vehicles carrying satellites into space. With these satellites, 
we can now speak to someone on the other side of the world as clearly 
as we can our neighbor. Meteorologists can predict the weather with 
precision.
  We began with Alan Shepherd, the first American to leave the 
protective atmosphere of the Earth, and John Glenn orbiting the Earth 
in his Friendship 7 spacecraft. We watched with baited breath as Neil 
Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin piloted the Eagle Lunar Module to the surface 
of the Moon. Now the Space Shuttle carries astronauts and cosmonauts to 
the Space Station Mir where they conduct experiments that lead to 
advances in biomedicine and physics.
  The next generation will soon see further trips to the other planets 
in our solar system. The next space shuttle will make it easier than 
ever before to carry people and payloads into space. We may soon unlock 
the mysteries of life on Mars and Europa, and water on the Moon.
  As the nations of the world begin to build the International Space 
Station, they are driven by the legacy of the Mercury, Apollo, and 
Shuttle missions, and look confidently to the stars to see our destiny.

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