H. Res. 450

In the House of Representatives, U.S., 

September 20, 2005.

Whereas the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

was created in 1958 under President Eisenhower and 

has, since then, accomplished great things in the fields of 

science, technology, aeronautics, and aerospace exploration; 

Whereas women have worked since the 1960’s for the right 

to play a vital role in NASA’s missions in outer space; 

Whereas after more than twenty years of waiting, the first 

American woman, Sally Ride, flew in outer space in 1983 

aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger; 

Whereas in 1984, Kathryn Sullivan became the first American woman to perform a space walk aboard the Space 

Shuttle Challenger during mission STS–41; 

Whereas in 1986, Christa McAuliffe, who was to be the first 

teacher and civilian in space after being selected from 

11,000 applicants, and Mission Specialist Judith Resnick, 

were killed aboard the space shuttle Challenger just 73 

seconds after lift-off during mission STS–51L; 

Whereas in 1992, Mae Jemison became the first AfricanAmerican woman to fly in outer space aboard the Space 

Shuttle Endeavor during mission STS–47; 
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•HRES 450 EH 

Whereas Shannon Lucid previously held the United States 

record for the amount of time spent living and working 

in space on a single mission aboard the Russian Mir 

space-station for over 6 months in 1996; 

Whereas in 1999, Eileen Collins became the first woman to 

command a space mission when Space Shuttle Columbia 

deployed the Chandra X-Ray Observatory; 

Whereas in 2003, Mission Specialists Kalpana Chawla and 

Laurel Clark were killed aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia on reentry during mission STS–107; 

Whereas we celebrate America’s Return to Flight with Space 

Shuttle Discovery’s STS–114 mission, which Eileen Collins commanded and on which Wendy Lawrence served as 

Mission Specialist; and 

Whereas great strides have been made in the Space Shuttle 

and International Space Station era to increase the number and prominence of women serving in the NASA Astronaut Corp, thereby giving us hope for the future of 

American women in space, including Ellen Baker, Yvonne 

Cagle, Tracy Caldwell, Kalpana Chawla, Laurel B. Clark, 

Mary Cleave, Catherine Coleman, Eileen Collins, Nancy 

J. Currie, Jan Davis, Bonnie Dunbar, Anna Fisher, 

Linda Godwin, Susan J. Helms, Joan Higginbotham, 

Kathryn Hire, Marsha Ivins, Mae C. Jemison, Tamara 

E. Jernigan, Janet Kavandi, Susan L. Kilrain, Wendy 

Lawrence, Shannon Lucid, Sandra Magnus, Megan 

McArthur, Pamela Melroy, Barbara Morgan, Lisa 

Nowak, Karen Nyberg, Ellen Ochoa, Judith A. Resnik, 

Sally K. Ride, Patricia C. Hilliard Robertson, Margaret 

Rhea Seddon, Heidemarie Sefanyshyn-Piper, Nicole 

Scott, Kathryn C. Thornton, Janice Voss, Mary E. 
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Weber, Peggy Whitson, Sunita Williams, and Stephanie 

Wilson: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) recognizes Space Shuttle Commander Eileen 

Collins, Mission Specialist Wendy Lawrence, and the 

contributions of all other women who have worked with 

the National Aeronautics and Space Administration following the successful mission of the Space Shuttle Discovery on STS–114; and 

(2) celebrates the many achievements of women in 

the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and 

congratulates Commander Collins and the rest of her 

crew.

Attest:

Clerk.