When Apollo 11 departed from the moon it left behind a small plaque reading: 

“Here Men from The Planet Earth
First Set Foot upon The Moon
July, 1969 AD
We Came in Peace for All Mankind”

From October 1968 through July 1969, the United States had launched five Apollo missions: Apollo 7 made the first flight to Earth orbit; Apollo 8 made the first orbit of the moon; Apollo 9 and 10 tested the Lunar Module. 

On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 landed men on the moon. In just ten months, a team of more than 300,000 workers from 20,000 companies in 50 states had focused their innovation, bravery, and speed on an unprecedented history-making effort. 

Last Tuesday, July 20, marked the 35th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. The event challenged the nation, quelled skeptics worldwide, and inspired generations of Americans to enter the math and science fields. Today, America continues to lead the world in research and development, and, as leaders in this field, Americans are bringing security, prosperity, and a better quality of life to people in nations across the globe.

From the Apollo landings on the Moon, to robotic surveys of the Sun and the planets, to the compelling images captured by advanced space telescopes, U.S. achievements in space have revolutionized humanity's view of the universe. Achievements in math and science, spearheaded by our space program, have led to the development of technologies that have widespread applications to address problems on Earth. 

More than 1,300 NASA and other U.S. space technologies have contributed to U.S. industry, improving our quality of life and helping save lives. 

· Image processing used in CAT Scanners and MRI technology in hospitals worldwide came from technology developed for computer-enhanced pictures of the Moon for the Apollo programs. 

· Kidney dialysis machines were developed as a result of a NASA-developed chemical process, and insulin pumps were based on technology used on the Mars Viking spacecraft. 

· Programmable Heart Pacemakers were first developed in the 1970s using NASA satellite electrical systems. 

· Fetal heart monitors were developed from technology originally used to measure airflow over aircraft wings. 

· Surgical probes used to treat brain tumors in children resulted from special lighting technology developed for plant growth experiments on Space Shuttle missions. 

· Infrared hand-held cameras used to observe blazing plumes from the Shuttle have helped firefighters point out hot spots in brush fires. 

· Satellite communications allow news organizations to provide live, on-the-spot broadcasting from anywhere in the world; families and businesses to stay in touch using cell phone networks; and the simple pleasures of satellite TV and radio, and the convenience of ATMs across the country and around the world.

Like the explorers of the past and the pioneers of flight in the last century, we cannot identify today all that we will gain from space exploration; however, we know from experience that the eventual return will be great. Like the efforts of explorers and researchers before us, the success of future U.S. space exploration will continue to unfold over generations to come. Although events of today always grab our attention and focus, they will weather softly with the years. One thousand years from today Christopher Columbus will seem more of a footnote in history, but everyone will remember that Neil Armstrong and the United States were the first to the moon.

:: Dot Con ::

Con artists have gone high-tech, using the Internet to defraud consumers in a variety of clever ways. Whether they're using the excitement of an Internet auction to entice consumers into parting with their money, applying new technology to peddle traditional business opportunity scams, using email to reach vast numbers of people with false promises about earnings through day trading, or hijacking consumers' modems and cramming hefty long-distance charges onto their phone bills, scam artists can be just a click away. 

Using complaints to Consumer Sentinel, a consumer fraud database, law enforcement officials have identified the top "dot cons" facing consumers who surf the Internet.  In addition to putting many online con artists out of business, the Federal Trade Commission, the nation's chief consumer protection agency, wants consumers to know how not to get caught in their web. 

According to the FTC, here's what online consumers are complaining about most: 

Internet Auctions
The Bait: Shop in a "virtual marketplace" that offers a huge selection of products at great deals.

The Catch: After sending their money, consumers say they've received an item that is less valuable than promised, or, worse yet, nothing at all.

The Safety Net: When bidding through an Internet auction, particularly for a valuable item, check out the seller and insist on paying with a credit card or using an escrow service. 

Internet Access Services
The Bait: Free money, simply for cashing a check.

The Catch: Consumers say they've been "trapped" into long-term contracts for Internet access or another web service, with big penalties for cancellation or early termination.

The Safety Net: If a check arrives at your home or business, read both sides carefully and look inside the envelope to find the conditions you're agreeing to if you cash the check. Read your phone bill carefully for unexpected or unauthorized charges. 

Web Cramming
The Bait: Get a free custom-designed website for a 30-day trial period, with no obligation to continue.

The Catch: Consumers say they've been charged on their telephone bills or received a separate invoice, even if they never accepted the offer or agreed to continue the service after the trial period.

The Safety Net: Review your telephone bills and challenge any charges you don't recognize. 

Travel and Vacation
The Bait: Get a luxurious trip with lots of "extras" at a bargain-basement price.

The Catch: Consumers say some companies deliver lower-quality accommodations and services than they've advertised or no trip at all. Others have been hit with hidden charges or additional requirements after they've paid.

The Safety Net: Get references on any travel company you're planning to do business with. Then, get details of the trip in writing, including the cancellation policy, before signing on. 

Business Opportunities
The Bait: Be your own boss and earn big bucks.

The Catch: Taken in by promises about potential earnings, many consumers have invested in a "biz op" that turned out to be a "biz flop." There was no evidence to back up the earnings claims.

The Safety Net: Talk to other people who started businesses through the same company, get all the promises in writing, and study the proposed contract carefully before signing. Get an attorney or an accountant to take a look at it, too. 

Investments
The Bait: Make an initial investment in a day trading system or service and you'll quickly realize huge returns.

The Catch: Big profits always mean big risk. Consumers have lost money to programs that claim to be able to predict the market with 100 percent accuracy. 

The Safety Net: Check out the promoter with state and federal securities and commodities regulators, and talk to other people who invested through the program to find out what level of risk you're assuming. 

For more information on how to protect yourself online visit Congressman Forbes' Consumer Resources webpage.