Gerald R. Ford

“ The space programs reflect not only technological skill of the highest order, they reflect the best in the American character-sacrifice, ingenuity and our unrelenting spirit of adventure. We begin our third century with a further expression of that combination, the brilliant unmanned mission to Mars, the most ambitious of all deep space explorations. ”

“ The world watched in awe as an American took his historic one small step onto the Moon. A dream of thousands of years had been realized. In keeping with tradition, the American presence in that new land was symbolized by the planting of the Stars and Stripes, which proclaimed the benefits of human freedom for the entire universe. ”

“ In celebrating the Bicentennial, we have gloried as a people in the history of a great and successful venture in the human experience. We gave thanks for our blessing and offered prayers for the future. It is appropriate that we again call upon Divine Providence for guidance and protection in our quest of space and those endless horizons in all the centuries to come. ”