Michael Waltz: “50 years ago this week, a group of astronauts launched from Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Florida, embarking…”

“50 years ago this week, a group of astronauts launched from Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Florida, embarking on a journey of discovery into unchartered territory. July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong took one small step for man and one giant leap for mankind on the surface of the Moon. Armstrong and fellow astronaut Buzz Aldrin spent 2\1/2\ hours collecting samples and taking photographs. Critically and importantly, they left behind an American flag and some of the most famous footprints in history, sealing America's place as the leader of the space renaissance in the international space race. Our journey to outer space was born out of a desire to discover, but that wasn't the only reason we went to the Moon. We also went to the Moon to compete with Russia, specifically regarding protecting our Nation's security. That competition still exists today, but it is even more serious now because of our economic and our military dependency on space and because, in addition to Russia, we now have China explicitly stating its intent to surpass America as the leader in space. Russia and China have made it clear their intention is not just to explore space, but to prepare themselves for conflict. Russia and China both know that they will never be able to take us on tank to tank, carrier to carrier, plane to plane, so they have decided in their national security strategy to take us out in space if we ever have to come to blows.…”