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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
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opened a new chapter in space exploration with the successful |
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launch of the Artemis I mission on November 16, 2022; and |
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WHEREAS, Propelled by NASA's Space Launch System rocket, the |
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uncrewed Orion spacecraft took off from Kennedy Space Center in |
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Cape Canaveral at 12:47 a.m.; during the 25-day mission, Orion |
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traveled almost 270,000 miles from Earth and performed two lunar |
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flybys that brought it within 80 miles of the moon's surface; after |
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remaining in space longer than any other spacecraft designed for a |
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human crew, Orion returned to Earth and landed safely in the Pacific |
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Ocean west of Baja California, Mexico, on December 11 at 9:40 a.m.; |
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though Artemis I launched from Florida, the Johnson Space Center in |
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Houston was responsible for the design, development, and testing of |
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the Orion spacecraft and assumed control of the flight as soon as |
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the rocket's engines ignited; and |
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WHEREAS, This historic mission was the first test flight of |
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the Artemis Program; named for Apollo's twin sister and the goddess |
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of the moon in Greek mythology, the program is set to establish the |
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first long-term human and robotic presence on and around the moon, |
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with an Artemis Base Camp on the surface and the Gateway in lunar |
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orbit; moreover, future missions will provide the opportunity for |
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the first woman and the first person of color to land on the moon and |
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for NASA to prepare for human missions to Mars; and |
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WHEREAS, Through the Artemis Program, NASA is expanding our |
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understanding of what humans can accomplish, and the success of |
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Artemis I is indeed a cause for celebration as we set our sights on |
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new horizons of scientific achievement; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature |
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hereby commemorate the launch of the Artemis I mission and extend to |
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NASA and all those involved in the Artemis Program sincere best |
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wishes for continued success with their important work; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for NASA as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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Senate. |