LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the United
States manned space flight and honoring the significant contributions of
New Yorkers to the National Space Program

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to publicly commend
those outstanding individuals whose lifelong dedication to scientific
research results in groundbreaking discoveries which improve the lives
of the citizens of New York State, as well as those of the entire
Nation; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 50th Anniversary of the United States manned space flight and
honor the significant contributions of New Yorkers to the National Space
Program; and
WHEREAS, February 20th, 2012, marks the 50th anniversary of Astronaut
John Glenn's historic 1962 flight aboard the NASA spacecraft Friendship
7, when he became the first American to orbit the Earth; and
WHEREAS, John Glenn made three successful orbits at 17,400 miles per
hour, and after four hours and 56 minutes in flight the spacecraft
re-entered the Earth's atmosphere, splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean
and was safely taken aboard the USS Noa; and
WHEREAS, New York State has a rich history of contributing outstanding
talent to the Space Shuttle Program; and
WHEREAS, New York has contributed more astronauts to the Space Shuttle
Program than any other state in our Nation; a combined 30 astronauts,
born and raised in New York, have participated in 75 Space Shuttle
missions that have yielded tremendous research activity, new discoveries
and the completion of the International Space Station; and
WHEREAS, The only two women to ever command a space shuttle, Eileen
Marie Collins and Pamela Anne Melroy, both call New York their home; and
WHEREAS, Born on November 19, 1956, in Elmira, New York, Eileen Marie
Collins was the first female commander of a United States Spacecraft
with Shuttle mission STS-93, launched in July of 1999; and
WHEREAS, Pamela Anne Melroy, born on September 17, 1961, in Rochester,
New York, served as pilot on Space Shuttle missions STS-92 and STS-112
and commanded mission STS-120; and
WHEREAS, Individuals who have given so selflessly of their skills and
dedication in performing vital research to bring us closer to better
understanding and protecting our environment, world and universe, are
worthy and due the highest commendation for their contributions to all
of humanity; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the United States manned space
flight and honor the significant contributions of New Yorkers to the
National Space Program.