Resolution Commemorating 50th Anniversary of Explorer I Among Three S&T Bills Passed by House
(Washington, DC) – A bipartisan House resolution marking the 50th anniversary of the launch of the United States’ Explorer I satellite - the world’s first scientific spacecraft - passed the House of Representatives today along with two other Committee on Science and Technology resolutions.
On January 31, 1958, the U.S. successfully launched Explorer 1, the first satellite into space. That day marked the beginning of the U.S. space program. Fifty years later, leaders of the U.S. House Committee on Science and Technology joined to remember the landmark day and celebrate the remarkable advances the U.S. space program has yielded in the five decades since the launch of Explorer 1.
That effort, via H. Con. Res. 287, was shepherded by Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics Chairman Mark Udall (D-CO). Udall was joined by Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN), Ranking Member Ralph Hall (R-TX), Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics Ranking Member Tom Feeney (R-FL) and Subcommittee on Energy and Environment Chairman Nick Lampson (D-TX) in cosponsoring the commemorative resolution.
“As we pause to recognize the American space program and all that has been accomplished over the past five decades since Explorer I, we cannot help but acknowledge the countless ways it has benefited our nation. A healthy and active space program breeds innovation and strengthens the scientific, technological, and engineering foundation that is crucial to our economic growth and global competitiveness,” said Rep. Udall. “We must make a commitment to continue to invest in our space program so that we can look forward to another fifty years of U.S. achievements in space exploration and continued leadership in science and technology.”
The House also passed H. Res. 907, Congratulating the X PRIZE Foundation’s leadership in inspiring a new generation of viable, super-efficient vehicles. The resolution was offered by Rep. Daniel Lungren (R-CA) and referred to the Committee on Science and Technology. The Automotive X PRIZE competition awards multi-million dollar prizes to teams that design and build super-efficient vehicles aimed at breaking our addiction to oil and stemming the effects of climate change. The resolution applauds the X PRIZE Foundation for its commitment to bring together some of the United State’s finest minds to spur innovation and entrepreneurship in an effort to find solutions to some of the greatest challenges facing our nation.
H. Res. 943, the third bill under Committee jurisdiction passed by the House today, was offered by Rep. Paul Hodes (D-NH). The resolution recognizes the 22nd anniversary of the space shuttle Challenger disaster, and recognizes the courage and bravery of the seven-person crew who lost their lives on January 28, 1986. Christa McAuliffe, a schoolteacher from Concord, New Hampshire who was on board as the first member of the Teacher in Space Project, is also honored in the resolution for encouraging America’s children to pursue careers in science and mathematics.
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