[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 17851]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 651--HONORING THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE 
      ADMINISTRATION ON THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS ESTABLISHMENT

  Mr. NELSON of Florida (for himself, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Brown, Mr. 
Cardin, Mr. Cornyn, Mrs. Hutchison, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Martinez, Ms. 
Mikulski, Mr. Obama, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Vitter, and Mr. 
Voinovich) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation:

                              S. Res. 651

       Whereas the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
     was established on July 29, 1958;
       Whereas on May 5, 1961, NASA successfully launched 
     America's first manned spacecraft, Freedom 7, piloted by Alan 
     B. Shepard, Jr.;
       Whereas on February 20, 1962, John Glenn became the first 
     American astronaut to orbit the earth;
       Whereas in July of 1969 President John Kennedy's vision of 
     landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth 
     was realized with the Apollo 11 mission, commanded by Neil A. 
     Armstrong, Lunar Module Pilot Edwin ``Buzz'' Aldrin, Jr., and 
     Command Module pilot Michael Collins;
       Whereas on April 12, 1981, NASA began a new era of human 
     space flight and exploration with the launch of the first 
     Space Shuttle Columbia, commanded by John W. Young and 
     piloted by Robert L. ``Bob'' Crippen;
       Whereas on June 18, 1983, Dr. Sally Ride became the first 
     American woman in space as a crewmember of Space Shuttle 
     Challenger for STS-7;
       Whereas NASA has greatly expanded our knowledge and 
     understanding of our planet and solar system through various 
     unmanned vehicles utilized on numerous missions;
       Whereas, during the Cold War, NASA's achievements served as 
     a source of national pride and captured the imagination of 
     the world by demonstrating a peaceful use of our 
     technological capabilities;
       Whereas NASA now serves as a model for international 
     cooperation and American leadership through the International 
     Space Station and other scientific endeavors;
       Whereas thanks to NASA and the far-reaching gaze of the 
     Hubble Space Telescope, we have seen further into our 
     universe than ever before;
       Whereas NASA space probes have landed on or flown by eight 
     of the planets in our solar system;
       Whereas the aeronautics research by NASA has led to great 
     discoveries and advances in aircraft design and aviation;
       Whereas the work done by NASA has expanded the scope of 
     human knowledge, created new technologies, and inspired young 
     men and women to enter scientific and engineering careers;
       Whereas in the last fifty years, NASA has positively 
     impacted almost every facet of our lives; and
       Whereas, thanks to the heroism, courage, and supreme 
     sacrifice of our astronaut corps over the last five decades, 
     we are now able to live and work in space for the benefit of 
     all humankind: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the Senate That the Senate----
       (1) honors the men and women of the National Aeronautics 
     and Space Administration on the occasion of its 50th 
     Anniversary;
       (2) acknowledges the value of NASA's discoveries and 
     accomplishments; and
       (3) pledges to maintain America's position as the world 
     leader in earth and space science, aeronautics and space 
     exploration and technology.

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