Madam Speaker, this year we celebrate many important anniversaries in our Nation's civil space and aeronautics programs. Earlier this year, I introduced H. Con. Res 287, which celebrated the 50th…
Madam Speaker, this year we celebrate many important anniversaries in our Nation's civil space and aeronautics programs. Earlier this year, I introduced H. Con. Res 287, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of the United States Explorer I satellite, the world's first scientific spacecraft, and which marked the birth of the United States space exploration program. Since the successful Explorer I launch, we have built the world's leading civil space and aeronautics enterprise. Our human expeditions into space, our robotic science probes exploring the Earth and beyond, and our aeronautical research and development initiatives continue to deliver inspiring results and provide benefits to society.
Today, I am pleased to be an original co-sponsor of three resolutions that mark other key milestones in our civil space and aeronautics activities: H. Res. 1315, Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; H. Res. 1313, Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the First American Woman in Space; and H. Res. 1312, Commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the Space Foundation.
H. Res. 1315 commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which was established on July 29, 1958, through the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958. NASA has achieved countless successes over the 50 years since its creation and H. Res. 1315 recalls many of the agency's accomplishments in human exploration, aeronautics, and space and Earth science. I strongly agree with the sentiment expressed in H. Res. 1315, ``. . . in the last fifty years, NASA has positively impacted almost every facet of our lives.'' NASA's contributions to aviation, to increased understanding of our climate, to the advancement of our knowledge of the universe, and to the development of countless technologies that have made their way into broader societal applications have fundamentally changed our lives.
Madam Speaker, the applied uses of NASA research and developments have enabled weather and environmental monitoring, commercial satellite communications, and major improvements in commercial aviation. H. Res. 1315 marks NASA's successful launches of the first American manned spacecraft in 1961, the first human expedition to the Moon in 1969, and the first Space Shuttle in 1981. NASA's international cooperative ventures have allowed many of the world's nations to join together in advancing technology and knowledge through the peaceful uses of outer space. NASA's first 50 years have yielded truly remarkable discoveries and advances. I want to thank Mr. McCaul of Texas, who along with Mr. Lampson of Texas, introduced H. Res. 1315. H. Res. 1315 is an important opportunity to recognize NASA's half century of achievements and the men and women of NASA that have made them possible, and I am pleased to support it.
As a result of NASA's human exploration program, we also celebrate the 25th anniversary of the first American woman in space, Dr. Sally K. Ride. H. Res. 1313 commemorates that date in June of 1983 when Dr. Ride flew aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger, making history by becoming the first American woman in space. She went on to fly a second mission in 1984. When training for Dr. Ride's third mission ended as a result of the tragic Challenger accident, she continued her contributions to NASA and the Nation as an educator and advisor. H. Res. 1313 honors Dr. Ride's passion and dedication as a tireless advocate for young women and girls to pursue education and careers in science, mathematics, and technology. The opportunities she is creating for our youth, especially girls and young women, to acquire hands-on learning in science will go far in training the next generation of leaders in science and engineering. That is something I care passionately about, and I thank my colleague, Mr. Lampson of Texas for introducing H. Res. 1313.
In addition to the important role of our Federal government in the Nation's space and aeronautics programs, many non-governmental organizations provide outreach, education, and advocacy that enhance our space and aeronautics activities. That is why I strongly support H. Res. 1312, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Space Foundation. The Space Foundation, which is headquartered in Colorado Springs in my home state of Colorado, is a non-profit organization dedicated to using space to benefit humanity and furthering space exploration, development, and education. Since 1983, the Space Foundation has helped to ensure the strength and leadership of our space programs, and I am pleased that we can acknowledge the Space Foundation's endeavors in this regard. I thank my colleague, Mr. Lamborn of Colorado, for introducing this resolution recognizing the Space Foundation for its 25 years of excellence and service.
Madam Speaker, our nation's space and aeronautics programs are critical sources of innovation and inspiration for our Nation. The contributions of NASA, our astronauts, and our space advocacy organizations provide benefits for our society, help strengthen our economy, and help train the next generation of scientists and engineers. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 1315 commemorating the 50th anniversary of NASA; H. Res. 1313 celebrating the 25th anniversary of the first American woman in space, Dr. Sally K. Ride; and H. Res. 1312 commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Space Foundation.
