By Jim Cawley
NASA’s Kennedy Space Center
NASA’s past and present came together during Vice President Mike Pence’s visit to Kennedy Space Center on July 20, 2019 — 50 years from the day the first two humans walked on the Moon.
Attending with his wife, second lady Karen Pence, and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, the vice president honored the heroes of the Apollo 11 mission during his stop at the Florida spaceport, which included visits to the Shuttle Landing Facility and Launch Complex 39A, the site of the historic Apollo 11 launch on July 16, 1969. He then addressed National Space Council members, elected officials, invited guests and NASA and Lockheed Martin employees at Kennedy’s Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout (O&C) Building.
“On this historic occasion, I’m told that we’ve also achieved a critical milestone in our effort to go to the Moon and beyond,” said Pence, who serves as chairman of the National Space Council. “Today, thanks to the hard work of the men and women of NASA and of American industry, the Orion crew vehicle for the Artemis 1 mission is complete and ready to begin preparations for its historic first flight.”
Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who followed Neil Armstrong in walking on the lunar surface while Michael Collins piloted the command and service module, stood and saluted the crowd as Pence praised the three men as heroes.
“True to their creed, astronauts have never liked the idea of being called heroes,” Pence said. “Yet, for all they did and for all the risks they took … if Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Mike Collins are not heroes, then there are no heroes. We honor these men today, and America will always honor our Apollo astronauts.”
Pence also thanked Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison Schmitt, who attended the celebration, for his “courageous service.” Schmitt was a part of the final trip to the Moon, almost 47 years ago. During that mission, Gene Cernan uttered these final words as he stepped off the Moon on Dec. 17, 1972: “We leave the Moon as we came, and God willing, we shall soon return — with peace and hope for all mankind.” That quote rings true today, Pence said, as NASA follows President Donald Trump’s Space Policy Directive 1.
“This challenges NASA to lead the return of Americans to the Moon, send the first Americans to Mars, and enable Americans to expand and deepen our reach across the solar system,” Pence said. It is our mission.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was the opening speaker at the event, which included brief speeches from Bridenstine, Kennedy Director Bob Cabana and Lockheed Martin Chairwoman, President and CEO Marillyn Hewson. Members of Neil Armstrong’s family also were in attendance.
“I am excited to look back on that 50 years and what a great achievement it is,” DeSantis said of the Apollo 11 mission. “But I think the story of that is still being written because I think the things that are going to happen in the relatively near future are going to be ones for the record book.”
Bridenstine called the day a celebration not only for NASA and the country, but also the world. The NASA administrator sees stark similarities between present day and that historic moment 50 years ago.
“Similar to the 1960s, we, too, have an opportunity to take a giant leap forward for all of humanity,” Bridenstine said. “President Trump and Vice President Pence have given us a bold direction as an agency to return to the Moon within five years and go forward to Mars.”
The NASA administrator also commended Cabana for his efforts in transforming Kennedy into a multi-user spaceport capable of carrying out President Trump’s directive.
“Now we have great news that, in fact, the American space program is coming back,” Bridenstine said. “And it’s coming back with a vengeance.”