[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 217 (Thursday, December 16, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1379]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IN RECOGNITION OF COMMANDER DON LIND

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BLAKE D. MOORE

                                of utah

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 16, 2021

  Mr. MOORE of Utah. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize Mr. Don 
Lind of Utah; a proud Naval Aviator, esteemed scientist, and veteran 
astronaut who has contributed significantly to our nation's exploration 
of space.
  After serving a church mission to the Northeastern United States and 
graduating from the University of Utah, Mr. Lind went on to pursue a 
Ph.D. in High-Energy Nuclear Physics from the University of California, 
Berkeley in 1964. During this time, he held the rank of Commander in 
the Naval Reserve as an aviator and logged more than 4,500 flight 
hours.
  Don began working at NASA in 1964 during a time of intense 
competition when America's dominance in space was still in question. He 
quickly set himself apart and was selected into NASA Astronaut Group 5 
just two years later. Commander Lind's proficiency in developing tools 
for use on the lunar surface, studying the properties of low-energy 
particles in interplanetary space, and developing payloads for early 
space missions made him an invaluable member of the group.
  In 1985, Commander Lind became the final member of the ``Original 
Nineteen'' to go to space when he served as Mission Specialist 1 on 
STS-51-B. This important mission was instrumental in capturing images 
of the Earth's aurora and deploying the Northern Utah Satellite, which 
was designed to measure antenna patterns of L-band radars. The program 
faced immense adversity, yet Don's determination ensured its success.
  Following his time with NASA, Commander Lind returned to his home 
state of Utah and moved to Cache Valley, where he inspired countless 
students as a professor at Utah State University.
  Back home, Don continues to serve others by magnifying church 
callings and loving his seven children and many grandchildren. Today, 
Commander Lind, now 91, resides in Smithfield, Utah and remains an icon 
of Utah's many contributions to space exploration.
  I join with Americans across our nation in thanking Commander Lind 
for his dedication to our community, to our greatest ideals, and to the 
state of Utah. The sacrifices of men and women like Don Lind have 
buoyed our collective conscience, encouraged our nation through times 
of great uncertainty, and lifted our eyes and minds to the endless 
possibilities that surround us.

                          ____________________