Who took humanitys first step on the moon. Thank you for being here, rick. During our yearlong celebration, weve highlighted the team that made apollo possible. It took 400,000 americans doing every conceivable job to make it happen. That included the engineers, the material experts, the medical experts and the amazing seam the es of isle c. Dover of space suit that we are unveiling this morning. It took another large team to conserve the suit so that we can once again share wit the world after 13 years. That Team Included our conservators, historians and experts. But their work s was only possible thanks to the thousands of individual who is contributed to our reboot the suit kick starter campaign. So thank you to all those people who did their part to preserve this vital piece of space history. The complexity of the suit supported human life in the harshest of environment, radiation, and the threat of cuts from sharp rocks all had to be taken into consideration. As our curators notice e note these space suits were Single Person spacecrafts but why theyll were designed to endure the punishment of a lunar walk, they werent designed to last a half century on display. Were happy that the work weve done will extend the suit and insure that generations to come can be inspired by it. People. To inspire Neil Armstrongs commitment to his tenacity and pierce veerns and calm demeanor were just what you wanted in someone piloting an odd looking craft like the one behind me to the surface of the moon for the first time. His humility was reflected on the plaque which read, we came in peace for all mankind. All three apollo 11 restaurants understood the journey they were mbarking on i cant wait to share the teamwork that is neils suit with our visitors i hope people will join us here in the museum and on the mall as we come together to celebrate the honor and the legacy of apollo and look to the great achievements to come. It is now my pleasure to introduce the person who is tasked with making those next steps in Space Exploration a reality. Lease join me in yes, maam please join me in welcoming in jim briden stein. Jim. [applause] jim well, this is a great day for nasa. And its a great day for america. Im immensely grateful to the director and the board and the thousands of public contributors who graciously donated to preserve Neil Armstrongs space suit for generations to come. It is an honor to have with us neils oldest son, rick armstrong. Commander Neil Armstrongs name is synonymous undaunted courage, the american spirit of exploration and the evidence that humanitys potential is limitless. 50 years ago this week, armstrong, buzz aldrin and Michael Collins hurd led through the unforgiving blackness of space aiming at the moon, not in a mission of conquest but a mission of peace. Their success expanded humanitys understanding of our celestial neighbor and most importantly it taught us something about ourselves, that together we can accomplish any goal and overcome any difficulty. Among armstrongs personal effects aboard apollo 11 were pieces of the Wright Brothers flyer, the wooden and fabric aircraft that succeeded in making humanitys first powered flight some of 66 years earlier in paying homage, armstrong demonstrated a profound truth that we must continue to remember even today. He understood that humanitys meteoric rise from the ground the sky to space and on to the moon was not by chance. It was, in fact, by choice, a push the limits and to further discover the almightys creation and use our newfound knowledge to elevate the human condition. Ultimately, armstrong knew that Space Exploration was a matter of choosing greatness every day no matter the risk, no matter the danger. The 1960s had leaders in the white house whose vision of american Space Exploration enabled the Historic Success of the apollo program. Likewise today, our nation is fortunate to once again have leaders who are challenging the United States of america to live up to its True Potential as the worlds preeminent spacefearing nation. President trump and Vice President pence have given us bold direction to return sustainably to the moon by 2024 and then on to mars. And we are getting it done. I want to be clear, we are getting it done. It is my honor to introduce today the Vice President of the United States and the chairman of the National Space council Vice President mike pence. [applause] thank you, sir. Vice president pence thank you administrator, thank you for your great leadership at nasa. To all of our honored guest, to our host, thank you for your great leadership here at the national air and space museum, and especially it is a particular honor to begin this week remembering the mission of apollo 11 that started 50 years ago today with rick armstrong, with mary and with ricks oldest son bryce armstrong. Would you join me in welcoming the Armstrong Family and friends . [applause] thank you for being with us. It is an honor to be here at the national air an space museum to unveil one of the most important artifacts of what president kennedy called correctly the most hazardous and dangerous and greatest adventure upon which mankind has ever embarked. On this day 50 years ago, apollo 11 launched from pad 39 a at the Kenny Space Center to begin its Historic Quarter million mile journey to the moon. Just three days later, Mission CommanderNeil Armstrong would wear the space suit that we would unveil in just a few moments when he took that one giant leap for mankind. When president kennedy declared in 1961 that the United States would put a man in the moon before the decade was out, it is important to remember in our time that he issued a challenge before our country was able to meet it. The truth is we didnt have the rockets. We didnt have launch pads. We didnt have space suits. We not only we not only didnt have what we needed, we didnt know what we needed. The risks were great. The odds were long. And they were so long that some even feared that if we could make it to the moon, we might not be able to make it back. It took engineers, manufactures and technicians more than 10 ofrs to design the 21 layers edal, fiber and glass that you will see unveiled today. But i expect that it is moving for his family and for every american to remember the dangers and the risks at the time that this space suit simply may have been the very last thing that Neil Armstrong ever wore. In fact, there was a time and during that time that scientists speculated whether when a lunar module like this one behind me landed on the moon whether it would be able to lift off again. The risks were so real that history records that president nixon had a speech prepared prior to the landing in the event that the mission failed. But of course, it didnt fail. After all with 400,000 men and women behind the mission of nasa with the hearts and the prayers of the American People, how could it have failed . Instead as the president said to neil and buzz, shortly after they were saluting an American Flag planted on the surface of the moon in these words he spoke for every american, this is the proudest days of our lives. He said to them from the earth to the moon because of what youve done, the heavens have become a part of mans world and for one priceless moment the whole history of man all the people on earth are truly one, one in their pride for what youve done, one in our prayers you return safely to the earth. I remember that day. And as i speak to americans younger than me, it is i feel even more privileged to have been sitting in the basement of our home as the snowy images came back, the black and white images of that incredible moment. Stamped an indelible mark on my life, on mill imagination, and frankly on the imagination of my generation and every generation since. It was a contribution to the life of this nation, to the history of the world. Thats almost incalable. At that moment the nation held its breath, a nation that had been deeply divided during the tumultuous 1960s. As we think of this incredible scientific accomplishments also its also important for us to see in this space suit and in that moment, also another contribution to the life of a nation. On top to the contributions of science and human understanding, that brief moment, the man who wore that suit brought together our nation and the world. Now, true to their creed, astronauts have never liked being called heroes. And the man who wore this suit was especially resistant to such labels. But if Neil Armstrong was not a hero, then there are no heroes. He once described himself in his ords as he said i am and ever will be a white sox pocket protector nerdy engineer. And i would add proudly that he was a graduate of Purdue University in the state of indiana. Neil armstrong was reserved as his family and i were just chatting. He was in some respects, even shy. That was how it struck me on the few occasions i had the privilege to speak with him. In fact, i just told rick that my young daughter charlotte and i had the privilege of watching one of the launch Space Shuttle launches. And i was struck by his humility and modesty and how quickly he deferred whatever he had accomplished to the literally hundreds of thousands of men and women and engineers who made it possible for him to be there and to come home safe. But among his colleagues, its important to remember on this day when we unavailable this historic space suit that Neil Armstrong was called the ice commander. Generation who is enjoy this display, i think would do well to remember the strength of character and courage of this man. Just months before apollo 11 armstrong lost control of an gaining contrivance. History recorded that he ejected three seconds before it crashed into the ground and exploded in a ball of fire. More remarkably than that, were told that armstrong just dusted himself off that day and spent the rest of the day behind his desk. His son rick just reminded me that he flew this x15 above us about seven different times. He was an extraordinary test pilot, a man of incredible courage. But his courage was displayed perhaps nowhere more profoundly than in the moments just before the apollo 11 lieu nal module landed on the lunar module that landed on the surface of the moon. It was during the landing that likely saved the lives of the two astronauts that were aboard the lunar module. When the original landing area was so full of large boulders, destroyed thehave mission, that Neil Armstrong anually found a safe spot. Armstrong and aldrin had 17 seconds of fuel left remaining. Its incredible. So today, we we remember the service and the accomplishments of apollo 11 and of its commander Neil Armstrong. But we also we also do well thatmember his courage and that steely professionalism that saw saw him through an entire career of incredible accomplishment and solved that mission to a safe landing and return home. The debt this nation owes to our apollo restaurants including the man that wore the suit that we unvailed today we can never fully repay. Today is an installment. And the American People have exgressed their gratitude by preserving this symbol of courage and im told when the Smithsonian Institution launched the kick starter company to help preserve this invaluable piece of American History they raised half a Million Dollars to do it. I understand from those loo on because of the success of this initiative, the reboot, the Suit Campaign set an additional goal and now has raised more than 3 4 of arrest 1 no reserve ellen shepherds space suit. The American People have made it possible for this National Treasure to go on display today for the first time in 13 years and now to be available in these stoird halls for generations to come. So as we begin today to mark the golden anniversary of apollo 11, we do well to remember what they left behind in its capacity to inspire future generations. But let me also say as i told rick backstage, i expect his dad would be pleased to know that the fact that in this generation we are renewing our commitment to American Leadership and space and American Leadership in human space, exploration is also a tribute as well. Im proud to say that after it laid door mant, President Trump revised the National Space council to reinvigorate the u. S. s space program. Weve unleashed the American Space industry as ever before and under trumps leadership its now the policy of the United States of america to return to the moon within the next five years and from there on to mars. I have a feeling that the man who wore the suit that we will unveil today will be glad to know that the first woman until he next man on the moon will also be an american. Apollo 11 is the only event of the 20th search they are stands a chance of being wildly remembered in the 30th century. And thats what makes a day like oday so important. 1,000 years from now, july 20th, 1969 will likely be a date that will live on in the minds and imaginations of men and women. Here on earth across our solar system and beyond. And so its important that we do what we do today. That the generosity of americans, the professionalism of the smithsonian and the national air and space museum, the generosity of the Armstrong Family and their support makes it possible for this space suit to inexpire literally generations of american inspire literally generations of americans. And perhaps it will also inspire them to remember. Remember those men who took that most hazardous and dangerous and greatest adventure in their time. Its its remarkable to think as we talk about that that stealy eyed nerve of apollo 11 commander Neil Armstrong that maybe we do well this week also to remember a photograph, rick, of your dad. Shortly after he and buzz aldrin finished their historic moon walk, there is that picture of Neil Armstrong dressed in that very space suit covered with moon dust, sporting a threeday beard with a broad smile on his face exuding the greatest and purest satisfaction. The ice commander shed his demeanor for a minute and expressed from his heart what people all over the world were feeling in that moment. So thank you again to dr. Ellen stofan and the great stewardess here at the national air and space museum. Thank you for preserving this great National Treasure. May it inspire future heroes who walk these hallways in their youth. May god bless the memory and legacy of apollo 11 commander Neil Armstrong. And may god continue to bless the United States of america. Thank you all. [applause] 4, 3, 2, 1. [applause] [camera shutters] thank you very doing such a great job. Thank you for sharing. Thank you for coming this morning, we appreciate it. Weekend washington journal is live from the Smithsonian National air and space museum to mark the 50th anniversary of the apollo 11 moon landing. Saturday morning at 7 00 a. M. Astronautpollo 11 Michael Collins, air and space museum director, founding director of George WashingtonUniversity Space policy institute and author of john f. Kennedy and the race for the moon, and erin Space Museum Curator and author of apollo to the moon. Join the program all morning with your calls, questions, and tweets. Watch washington journal marking the 50th anniversary of the apollo moon landing. Beautiful. This week marks the 50th anniversary of the apollo 11 moon landing, a new poll shows three quarters of americans watched footage live or recorded of the moon landing. That is one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. Saturday at 8 00 p. M. Eastern, the landing and the moonwalk. On sunday morning at 10 30 eastern, coverage of the apollo 11 returning to earth, and greetings from president richard nixon. I want you to know i am the luckiest man in the world. I had the honor to be president and i have the privilege of speaking for so many in welcoming you back to earth. Watch the 1969 News Coverage of the historic apollo 11 moon mission on cspan and cspan. Org. Next, a look at relations between the u. S. And saudi arabia, and the dynamics between saudi arabia and other countries in the middle east. The middle east policy council hosted this forum. It is about two hours