WASHINGTON, D.C. (WKZO AM/FM) — Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) to permanently protect the Apollo landing sites on the moon.
The One Small Step to Protect Human Heritage in Space Act, which Peters introduced with U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), would enact first-of-its-kind legal protections for the Apollo sites by making NASA’s preservation recommendations a requirement for future activities on the Moon.
“As a child, I watched the achievements of the Apollo missions with excitement about what is possible when we come together with a common goal,” Senator Peters said. “I was proud to author this bipartisan legislation to preserve for all of humanity the incredible achievements of the Apollo astronauts on the Moon—and also to honor the 400,000 people around the world who made it possible—including the now famous African American ‘Hidden Figures’ who were crucial in calculating trajectories that got astronauts to and from the Moon.”
Senator Ted Cruz also released a statement on the matter.
“As we look forward to new expeditions to the moon and placing American boots where they have never gone before on Mars, it is crucial to safeguard the history of American exceptionalism and ingenuity in space, from Apollo 11 to the upcoming Artemis program missions,” Senator Cruz said. “I remember where I was when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin first stepped onto the moon, a moment that no American has forgotten. As the chairman of the Aviation and Space subcommittee and as a Texan, I am honored to help preserve these historic human heritage sites, while continuing to maintain a dominant presence in low-Earth orbit and beyond.”
The legislation directs NASA to require future moon activities to follow its preservation recommendations, and honors the over 400,000 scientists, designers, and researchers who contributed to the Apollo programs, including NASA’s “Hidden Figures” like Katherine Johnson – an African American mathematician who worked at NASA for 35 years and calculated the trajectory of the Apollo 11 flight to the moon as well the trajectories for the spaceflights of astronauts John Glenn and Alan Shepard.
Peters and the other bill authors worked closely with NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine who negotiated similar provision in the Artemis Accords and expressed his support for protecting the historical lunar sites in a 2019 Senate hearing – just before the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing.
“As we go forward to the Moon with the Artemis Program, NASA has been clear that we must do so sustainably,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said. “As part of the Artemis Accords agreements signed with partner nations, NASA has emphasized that protecting historically significant sites is critical, and I applaud the leaders of this legislation for their commitment to ensuring that future lunar science and exploration is done in a safe and transparent manner.”
The bill reflects an agreement with the House authors of a companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives: Committee on Science, Space & Technology Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK) as well as Subcommittee on Space Chairwoman Kendra Horn (D-OK) and Ranking Member Brian Babin (R-TX).
The final version of the bill now heads back to the Senate, which passed Peters’ original bipartisan bill in July 2019, for approval.
