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A concurrent resolution celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing.
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IV
116TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. CON. RES. 19
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 22, 2019
Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon
landing.
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 Amer-
ican 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 Mer-
cury and Gemini missions;
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SCON 19 RFH
Whereas the successful Moon landing honored the tragic sac-
rifice 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, El-
liot 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 Wil-
liam A. Anders stood ready to support or stand in for the
Apollo 11 crew;
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.’’;
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SCON 19 RFH
Whereas Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin planted the flag of
the United States in lunar soil, recording the achieve-
ment 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 man-
kind’’, recording the peaceful, scientific intent of the
Apollo missions;
Whereas the Apollo 11 crew collected lunar samples and con-
ducted 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 contrac-
tors 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 con-
tinues to inspire national scientific efforts in space, medi-
cine, and other fields; and
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SCON 19 RFH
Whereas the knowledge and experience gained from the Apol-
lo 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
1
concurring), That Congress—
2
(1) celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Apol-
3
lo 11 Moon landing;
4
(2) honors the bravery and skill of the crew of
5
Apollo 11, Neil Armstrong, Edwin E. ‘‘Buzz’’
6
Aldrin, and Michael Collins;
7
(3) commends the efforts of all individuals of
8
the United States who contributed to the achieve-
9
ment of the Apollo 11 Moon landing, exemplifying a
10
cooperative effort on a national scale that continues
11
to inspire scientific progress; and
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(4) supports the continued leadership of the
13
United States in the exploration and utilization of
14
space through human spaceflight.
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Passed the Senate July 18, 2019.
Attest:
JULIE E. ADAMS,
Secretary.
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