Legislation Document

WHEREAS, July 20, 2019, marks the 50th anniversary of humankind’s first steps on the moon during the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Apollo 11 mission; and

WHEREAS, United States President John F. Kennedy began the nation’s journey into space exploration on May 25, 1961, before a special joint session of Congress when he proclaimed the ambitious goal of a crewed lunar landing before the conclusion of the 1960s; and

WHEREAS, President Kennedy’s vision guided NASA through the technological discoveries of Project Mercury and Project Gemini, which together included eighteen manned flights throughout the 1960s that proved humans could survive in space, exit their crafts, and return safely to earth; and

WHEREAS, the Apollo Program, which included seventeen flights between 1968 and 1972, was the culmination of a decade of unprecedented scientific advancement; and

WHEREAS, many women and people of color, including Margaret Hamilton, Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, made invaluable contributions to their country and were essential to the success of NASA operations, despite discrimination and barriers to their participation; and

WHEREAS, during Apollo 11, astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin crewed the flight that fulfilled President Kennedy’s aspirations and put two men on the moon’s surface on July 20, 1969; and

WHEREAS, Neil Armstrong’s words as he became the first person to walk on the moon, "That's one small step for [a] man; one giant leap for mankind” were prescient, as the scientific advancements that made space exploration a reality revolutionized technology and, therefore, the history of humankind; and

WHEREAS, Delaware companies, including but not limited to, DuPont de Nemours, Inc., W. L. Gore and Associates, and ILC Dover, provided critical materials and ingenuity to the space program; and

WHEREAS, the innovations and discoveries of NASA scientists profoundly affected robotics, computer hardware and software, aeronautics, and nanotechnology, leading to eras of rapid advancement in communication, transportation, and health care; and

WHEREAS, NASA’s space exploration has inspired countless generations to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics; and

WHEREAS, NASA has funded over fifty educational programs which enhance Delaware’s classrooms; and

WHEREAS, the state of Delaware benefits from a multitude of educational opportunities, such as DuPont’s Challenger essay contest, Stephanie Wright’s Delaware AeroSpace Education Foundation, and the Delaware Foundation for Science and Mathematics Education, that were borne of the spirit that landed humankind on the moon; and

WHEREAS, through these endeavors, NASA continues to spark the creative energy of our future discoveries and adventures.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the 150th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, recognizes the contributions to society that the Apollo Program and preceding projects made, offers grateful congratulations to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on the occasion of this anniversary, and extends best wishes for continued innovation and scientific advancement from space exploration.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this resolution be sent to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration upon its passage .