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 American 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 Mercury and Gemini missions; 


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SCON 19 RFH 

Whereas the successful Moon landing honored the tragic sacrifice 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, Elliot 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 William 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 achievement 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 mankind’’, recording the peaceful, scientific intent of the 

Apollo missions; 

Whereas the Apollo 11 crew collected lunar samples and conducted 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 contractors 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 continues to inspire national scientific efforts in space, medicine, and other fields; and 


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SCON 19 RFH 

Whereas the knowledge and experience gained from the Apollo space program continues to inform missions to Mars, 

the far reaches of the solar system, and beyond: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 

2 concurring), That Congress— 

3 (1) celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Apol4 lo 11 Moon landing; 

5 (2) honors the bravery and skill of the crew of 

6 Apollo 11, Neil Armstrong, Edwin E. ‘‘Buzz’’ 

7 Aldrin, and Michael Collins; 

8 (3) commends the efforts of all individuals of 

9 the United States who contributed to the achieve10 ment of the Apollo 11 Moon landing, exemplifying a 

11 cooperative effort on a national scale that continues 

12 to inspire scientific progress; and 

13 (4) supports the continued leadership of the 

14 United States in the exploration and utilization of 

15 space through human spaceflight. 

Passed the Senate July 18, 2019. 

Attest: JULIE E. ADAMS, 

Secretary. 


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