110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 76

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Whereas the year 2007–2008 is the 50th anniversary of the 

International Geophysical Year (IGY) of 1957–1958; 

Whereas the IGY initiated the Space Age with the successful 

launch of the first artificial satellites, Sputnik by the 

former Soviet Union, and Explorer I by the United 

States;
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Whereas the interdisciplinary approach of IGY and the use 

of new space-based platforms enabled fundamental 

changes in the conduct of research concerning the Earth 

and its surrounding space environment; 

Whereas the interdisciplinary approach of IGY enabled coordinated, synchronous, global observations and measurements of the Earth, oceans, atmosphere, ice, and nearEarth space environment; 

Whereas the IGY increased our understanding of the causes 

of magnetic storms, ionospheric disturbances, and the 

origins of cosmic rays; 

Whereas the use of new space-based platforms enabled the 

discovery of the Van Allen radiation belts, which are 

trapped, charged particles in the Earth’s upper atmosphere, showed that those particles form belts of energy 

around the Earth, and contributed to the understanding 

of the Northern Lights; 

Whereas the IGY, involved thousands of scientists from 67 

nations; 

Whereas the IGY, which occurred during the height of Cold 

War tensions, facilitated international cooperation in 

science and helped lead to the Antarctic Treaty, which established the use of Antarctica for peaceful purposes and 

promoted continued, cooperative scientific investigations 

on the continent; 

Whereas the IGY led to the creation of institutional structures that continue to promote and enable the international exchange of scientific research related to the 

Earth and space, including the International Council on 

Science’s Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), Sci-
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entific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), and 

Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR); and 

Whereas this 50th anniversary celebration offers as an opportunity to inspire our public and youth to build on the legacy of success of the IGY, recognizing that a coordinated, 

international approach to interdisciplinary scientific challenges such as climate change, high energy physics, and 

space exploration contributes to the advancement of 

knowledge and sustains the cooperative spirit and goodwill among nations set forth in the IGY: Now, therefore, 

be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That the Congress—

3 (1) honors the 50th anniversary of the Inter4 national Geophysical Year (IGY) and its contribu5 tions to the scientific investigations of the Earth and 

6 outer space; and 

7 (2) encourages the public, and especially Amer8 ican youth, to attend IGY celebrations and seminars, 

9 such as those being planned at locations around the 

10 United States by the National Academy of Sciences 

11 and other organizations, and participate in discus-
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1 sions about the future of space science and Earth 

2 science. 

Passed the House of Representatives April 17, 2007. 

Attest:

Clerk. 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 76

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Honoring the 50th Anniversary of the International 

future accomplishments.tions to space research, and looking forward to Geophysical Year (IGY) and its past contribu-