Jul 20 1985
From The Space Library
The White House today issued President Reagan's Proclamation 5358 for Space Exploration Day, 1985. In the proclamation, the President said, "Sixteen years ago, on July 20, 1969, American astronauts sent a message to Earth: 'The Eagle has landed.' In a dramatic and compelling moment in history, the first humans had reached solid ground beyond our own planet . . .
"Space exploration is little more than a quarter century old. In that brief period, more has been learned about the cosmos and our relation to it than in all the preceding centuries combined. The ever-increasing knowledge gained from peaceful space exploration, and the uses to which that knowledge is put, potentially benefit all those on Spaceship Earth .. .
"In recognition of the achievements and promise of our space exploration program, the Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 154, has designated July 20, 1985, as "Space Exploration Day . . .
"I call on the people of the United States to observe the occasion with appropriate ceremonies and activities." (Admin. of Ronald Reagan, July 22/ 85, 924)
Chilean foreign Minister Jaime del Valle announced that Chilean and U.S. delegations reached agreement on extending the Easter Island airfield for Space Shuttle emergency landings, FBIS Santiago Radio Chilena in Spanish reported. Del Valle said Chile received favorable answers from the U.S. government to two major questions raised by Chile and that he would recommend the Chilean president approve the project.
Earlier Del Valle had said that a possible agreement with NASA on the extension of Mataveri Airport would not imply the surrendering of Chilean sovereignty over the airfield nor would it constitute the establishment of a foreign military base on Chilean territory. Del Valle was quoted as saying, "On the eve of the beginning of formal negotiations, I want to reaffirm to the country that the agreement proposed by the United States refers exclusively to the emergency landings of Space Shuttles of the type that are currently in operation. It is appropriate to note that the possible emergency landings at Easter Island include only those isolated flights originating in California and those taking off from Cape Canaveral, which take a different orbit." Del Valle concluded the earlier statement by saying the "cultural, archeological, and ecological structure of the island will be preserved." (FBIS Santiago Radio Chilena in Spanish, July 2/85, July 26/85)
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