President Donald Trump on Monday observed National Astronaut Day, marking the 64th anniversary of Alan Shepard becoming the first American to fly into space.
On May 5, 1961, Shepard piloted the Freedom 7 capsule to an altitude of 116.5 miles on a suborbital trajectory in 15 minutes. A month earlier, on April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin made history by becoming the first man in space, circling the Earth at an altitude of 187 miles aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft.
“Sixty-four years ago, a brave American stood in the cockpit of a Mercury rocket, ready to face the unknown,” Trump said in a statement. “After years of scientific progress and intensifying competition in space exploration, Commander Alan B. Shepard accepted the challenge of a dangerous mission that promised groundbreaking achievement, national pride, and a future defined by American leadership in space.
“With three simple words — 'Light this candle' — Shepard launched into the vastness of space, becoming the first American to leave Earth. His spacecraft, Freedom 7, was a tribute to the seven Mercury astronauts and to one of our nation's founding principles: freedom.”
Trump also highlighted other achievements.
“Just eight years later, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin planted the Stars and Stripes on the Moon,” Trump said of the first manned landing on the Moon on July 20, 1969.
And last month, “we saw that same power again when I ordered the rescue of stranded astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, whose eight-day mission turned into a 286-day stay aboard the International Space Station,” Trump added. “It was the resilience of our Nation’s space programs that rose to the challenge and brought them home successfully.”
Boeing sent the two astronauts into space, and they returned on a SpaceX mission after NASA and Boeing canceled their return aboard the capsule.
According to NASA, as of November 2023, the agency has 47 active astronauts, 12 astronaut leadership, and 332 former astronauts or payload specialists, including those who have left NASA and those who have passed away.
Only 12 American astronauts walked on the moon during the Apollo program, including Shepard. Between 1968 and 1972, 12 more people flew to the moon but did not land on its surface.
SpaceX has sent 60 people into space, including 45 on NASA missions and 15 commercial ones. That includes transporting personnel to the International Space Station.
In 2021, the Federal Aviation Administration added astronauts to the list of those working for an FAA-certified launch company who have reached altitudes greater than 50 miles above Earth and demonstrated actions “significant to public safety or that contribute to the safety of human spaceflight.”
This means that people who have purchased seats on commercial flights, including Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin or Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic, cannot be considered astronauts by the US government.
Trump has declared his commitment to space exploration.
“As we celebrate National Astronaut Day, we honor the legacy of those who paved the way to the final frontier,” he concluded. “Under my leadership, America’s space program will continue to push the boundaries of discovery with bold plans for missions to the moon, exploration of Mars, and beyond. By fostering innovation, strengthening our partnerships with private space companies, and advancing our technological capabilities, we will ensure that the United States remains the world leader in space for generations to come.”
In his proposed federal budget released last week, Trump plans to cut NASA funding by 24.3 percent, or $6 billion, including $1 billion for Mars-related initiatives.
NASA's fiscal year 2024 budget was $24.8 billion, down from the proposed $18.8 billion. The budget must be approved by the U.S. Congress.
More than $7 billion has been allocated for lunar exploration.
According to the budget report, NASA's new funding is aimed at “beating China and returning it to the moon and sending the first humans to Mars.”
Sourse: www.upi.com
