[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 62 (Tuesday, May 8, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E758]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  THE ADLER PLANETARIUM MARKS THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF ALAN SHEPARD'S 
             HISTORIC FLIGHT WITH A NEW EXHIBIT MAY 8, 2001

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                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 8, 2001

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge all 
Americans join with me in congratulating and commending the Adler 
Planetarium & Astronomy Museum as they mark the 40th anniversary of 
Alan Shepard's historic space flight in the Freedom 7 Mercury capsule 
on May 5, 1961. This flight and that of Yuri Gagarin, the Soviet 
cosmonaut whose flight preceded Shepard's by three weeks, set in motion 
the race with the Soviet Union for dominance in space exploration. 
These successes set a course that would eventually result in the 
landing of a man on the moon in 1969.
  As part of its new Space Millennium Project, the Adler Planetarium & 
Astronomy Museum will honor and commemorate the outstanding 
achievements of the American space program by opening the Dawn of the 
Space Age exhibit on May 10, 2001. The intriguing saga of the early 
years of American space exploration is retraced using original NASA 
prototype rocket models from the Dr. Robert R. Gilruth collection and 
historic oil paintings by artist Chesley Bonestell.
  Dr. Gilruth was the director of NASA's Manned Spacecraft Center in 
Houston from 1961 to 1972. During his tenure, he directed 25 manned 
space flights, including Alan Shepard's first Mercury flight, the first 
lunar landing by Apollo 11 in July 1969, the dramatic rescue of Apollo 
13 in 1970, through the Apollo 15 mission in July 1971. Mr. Bonestell's 
work has been a stimulus to generations of astronomers, physicists, 
engineers and others who were inspired by his artistry to pursue work 
in the space program and aeronautics industry.
  Mr. Speaker, the last 40 years have seen remarkable changes in space 
exploration. NASA continues its dominance in space exploration, pushing 
the boundaries of human knowledge, challenging our most basic 
understanding of the universe, most recently with the construction of 
the International Space Station. The Adler Planetarium & Astronomy 
Museum continues to educate the American public about space exploration 
and NASA's accomplishments through their innovative programs and 
exhibits.

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