[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 11, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H1725-H1726]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1045
              TRIBUTE TO PENN STATE LUNAR LION SPACE TEAM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, Penn State University's 
Lunar Lion Team will make history as the first-ever university-led 
space mission to the Moon.
  This group of talented young minds is competing in the Google Lunar 
XPRIZE competition to land a robotic spacecraft on the Moon in December 
of 2015. The mission, which the team began preparing in January of 
2013, includes a launch onboard a commercial

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space vehicle, a cruise through space for 5 days, landing, and a 
relaunch for a second landing on the Moon. The mission will then be 
used to send high resolution images, videos, and other information back 
to Penn State's mission control center.
  To put this in perspective, only the U.S., Russia, India, Japan, and 
China have ever landed a craft on the Moon. Penn State looks to join 
this elite club next year.
  The Lunar Lion Team includes Penn State science and engineering 
researchers as well as 80 undergraduate and graduate students in 
science, technology, engineering, and math programs, commonly known as 
STEM, as well as communications, business, logistics, computer science, 
and information technology, just to name a few majors.
  The team will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in 
spacecraft design, construction, and operation. Not only that, Mr. 
Speaker, the team is learning skills necessary for public-private 
partnerships through collaboration with NASA and commercial space 
companies.
  Like so many of the university's education research initiatives, it 
will also be used to support new innovations and research in the 
private sector, real world outcomes that will benefit not just 
students, but America's competitiveness.
  Penn State's bold mission sets the stage for a resurgence of 
interests in space exploration among America's youth and demonstrates 
an exciting practical application of STEM education. The team is making 
great progress towards the mission. Prototype development is underway, 
and last month, the team commenced rocket testing.
  As a Penn State alumnus and a lifelong resident of Centre County, I 
take great pride in the university and its long list of scholastic and 
volunteer achievements. The Lunar Lion Team adds another stellar 
achievement to that list.
  The work at the university that has led to the formation and 
development of this program is another example of innovation and 
creative leadership on the part of the Penn State community.
  As one of the only nonprofit groups working towards the Lunar XPRIZE, 
and the only university, those working on this Lunar Lion project in 
State College are truly doing something special.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to offer my very best to the Penn State Lunar 
Lion Team as they continue this important work. Their community and the 
Nation are very proud.

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