[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 94 (Wednesday, June 5, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3265-S3266]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 19--CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF 
                       THE APOLLO 11 MOON LANDING

  Mr. CORNYN (for himself and Mr. Brown) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation:

                            S. Con. Res. 19

       Whereas, on May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy, Jr., 
     before a joint session of Congress, declared, ``Now it is 
     time to take longer strides--time for a great new American 
     enterprise--time for this Nation to take a clearly leading 
     role in space achievement, which in many ways may hold the 
     key to our future on Earth'', setting the goal of sending 
     astronauts to the Moon and returning them safely to the 
     Earth;
       Whereas the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
     (in this preamble referred to as ``NASA'') mobilized and 
     established the Apollo space program to meet the goal set by 
     President Kennedy;
       Whereas the Apollo space program built on the achievements 
     of the prior space programs of NASA, including the Mercury 
     and Gemini missions;
       Whereas the successful Moon landing honored the tragic 
     sacrifice of every astronaut whose life had previously been 
     lost in the service of United States spaceflight research, 
     including--
       (1) Roger B. Chaffee, Virgil I. ``Gus'' Grissom, and Edward 
     H. White II, the astronauts whose lives were lost during pre-
     flight tests for Apollo 1; and
       (2) Theodore C. Freeman, Charles A. Bassett II, Elliot See, 
     Jr., Robert H. Lawrence, Jr., Michael J. Adams, and Clifton 
     C. Williams, Jr.;
       Whereas the crew of the Apollo 11 mission consisted of--
       (1) Neil Armstrong, Mission Commander;
       (2) Edwin E. ``Buzz'' Aldrin, Lunar Module Pilot; and
       (3) Michael Collins, Command Module Pilot;
       Whereas James A. Lovell, Jr., Fred W. Haise, Jr., and 
     William A. Anders stood ready to support or stand in for the 
     Apollo 11 crew;

[[Page S3266]]

       Whereas, on July 16, 1969, the Apollo 11 crew launched from 
     the NASA Launch Operations Center, now known as the John F. 
     Kennedy Space Center, aboard a Saturn V rocket;
       Whereas, on July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin 
     landed the Eagle Lunar Module on the surface of the Moon, and 
     Neil Armstrong said to Mission Control in Houston, Texas, 
     ``Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.'';
       Whereas, when Neil Armstrong took the first step onto the 
     Moon, he declared, ``That's one small step for a man, one 
     giant leap for mankind.'';
       Whereas Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin planted the flag of 
     the United States in lunar soil, recording the achievement of 
     the country as the first to land on the Moon;
       Whereas Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin placed a plaque on 
     the Moon that reads, ``We came in peace for all mankind'', 
     recording the peaceful, scientific intent of the Apollo 
     missions;
       Whereas the Apollo 11 crew collected lunar samples and 
     conducted experiments to gain a better understanding of the 
     composition of the Moon and conditions on its surface;
       Whereas the Lunar Laser Ranging Retroreflector installed by 
     the Apollo 11 crew is still used to measure the distance of 
     the Moon from the surface of the Earth;
       Whereas the success of the Apollo 11 Moon landing was due 
     to the skill, dedication, and collective effort of tens of 
     thousands of workers, scientists, engineers, and contractors 
     of the United States;
       Whereas the trajectory calculations of Katherine Johnson 
     and other mathematicians in the computer pool at NASA were 
     critical to the design of the Apollo 11 mission and the 
     rendezvous of the Apollo 11 Lunar Lander with the Command and 
     Service Module in lunar orbit;
       Whereas the Apollo 11 mission demonstrated the focus and 
     capability of the scientific community of the United States 
     and established the United States as the world leader in 
     space exploration;
       Whereas the Apollo 11 Moon landing was broadcasted live 
     over radio and television to millions across the world;
       Whereas, 50 years later, the Apollo 11 Moon landing 
     continues to inspire national scientific efforts in space, 
     medicine, and other fields; and
       Whereas the knowledge and experience gained from the Apollo 
     space program continues to inform missions to Mars, the far 
     reaches of the solar system, and beyond: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon 
     landing;
       (2) honors the bravery and skill of the crew of Apollo 11, 
     Neil Armstrong, Edwin E. ``Buzz'' Aldrin, and Michael 
     Collins;
       (3) commends the efforts of all individuals of the United 
     States who contributed to the achievement of the Apollo 11 
     Moon landing, exemplifying a cooperative effort on a national 
     scale that continues to inspire scientific progress; and
       (4) supports the continued leadership of the United States 
     in the exploration and utilization of space through human 
     spaceflight.

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