[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 157 (Wednesday, October 17, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12982-S12983]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               50TH ANNIVERSARY OF NASA AND THE SPACE AGE

  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I wish to commemorate the 50th 
anniversary of space flight, the NASA space program, and its 
contributions past and present to the United States as well as to New 
Mexico.
  Just over 50 years ago on October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched 
Sputnik, the first artificial satellite to orbit around Earth, which 
propelled the world into the space age. This era saw an unprecedented 
rise in scientific and technological developments benefiting mankind 
both on and off the surface of the Earth.
  New Mexicans have a long history of contributions to NASA and to the 
U.S. space program, beginning in 1929 when the ``Father of Modern 
Rocketry'' Robert H. Goddard moved to Roswell and began his work 
designing and testing rockets. In 1946 the first ever rocket was 
launched from U.S. soil into space from what is now White Sands Missile 
Range in New Mexico.
  Shortly after the Soviet launch of Sputnik, the United States 
launched Explorer I, using Goddard's research on the Redstone rocket as 
the launch vehicle. Later that year on July 29, Congress passed the 
National Aeronautics

[[Page S12983]]

and Space Act. This law created NASA as we know it today in order to 
``provide for research into problems of flight within, and outside the 
Earth's atmosphere, and for other purposes.''
  In 1961 a chimpanzee named ENOS, trained at Holloman Air Force Base 
in Alamogordo, was launched into orbit around Earth and safely returned 
after two full orbits. Fellow space travelers, Astronauts Drew Gaffney, 
Sidney Gutierrez, Mike Gutierrez, Edgar D. Mitchell, and former Senator 
Harrison J. Schmitt, whom I had the honor of working with years ago, 
all call New Mexico home.
  White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico currently provides an 
alternative landing site for the space shuttle, serves as the primary 
training area for NASA space shuttle pilots and is used for research on 
the next generation of the space shuttle. NASA has collaborated with, 
and funded, research at the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State 
University, and New Mexico Tech. This funding has been used to continue 
to expand the limits of understanding in the fields of science and 
technology. NASA continues to work with Sandia and Los Alamos National 
Laboratories on cutting edge research and development programs.
  New Mexico's Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo is also home to 
the 2007 X-PRIZE Cup competition, the world's largest air and space 
flight demonstration. In just a few days, on October 27 and 28, lunar 
lander vehicle competitions, launches, and air show performances will 
take place along with ground static displays of rockets, NASA displays, 
robotic displays, and military aircraft displays. I know that the 
competition will again be fierce for the X-PRIZE Cup, and I am very 
excited that all the action will take place in New Mexico.
  I am proud of New Mexico's role and rich history in space and with 
NASA. It is a great honor for New Mexico to contribute in so many ways 
to this remarkable program which has played such a large role in our 
Nation's history and which continues to be so important to our 
advancement.
  From the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions of the 1960s space race 
to the shuttle age and beyond, NASA has been on the cutting edge of 
technology, and they are consistently pushing the limits of 
understanding. Through space exploration we continue to gain a clearer 
picture of the history of our universe, our planet, and ourselves.
  In honor of 50 years of space flight, NASA will be hosting lecture 
series, future forums, and science expos throughout the country 
beginning this month and continuing through October of 2008. I am in 
awe of what NASA has done and can only anticipate what exciting things 
they will bring this country, and the world, over the next 50 years.

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