[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 129 (Thursday, July 31, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S7897]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING JACK W. AEBY

 Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, this month marks the 63rd year 
since scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory tested the world's 
first nuclear weapon at the Trinity Test Site in southern New Mexico. 
While much has been written about this test, which has changed the 
course of the world as we know it today, little has been written about 
the famous color photograph of this test the only color photograph that 
survived the test.
  Jack W. Aeby, then 23, was assigned to Emilio Segre in the Gamma 
Radiation group as a technician and was permitted to bring his own 35 
mm camera to take color pictures of the radiation measuring equipment. 
When the detonation occurred, Mr. Aeby took 3 pictures of the 
detonation before running out of film. Of those three pictures, one 
turned out to be good. Today that picture is used around the world and 
is found on the cover of such famous publications as Time magazine and 
Richard Rhodes' ``The Making of the Atomic Bomb.'' In some cases he is 
given credit for this photo but never consistently due to the 
complications associated with our copyright law.
  Mr. Aeby still lives in Espanola, NM. As he turns 85 next month, I 
would like to honor him and the contribution he has made to society in 
taking this photo to remind us of the way this test has changed the 
course of modern history.

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