Congressman Wants Center Renamed For First Man On The Moon

A California congressman says it's time for NASA to honor Apollo 11 astronaut, and noted test pilot, Neil Armstrong... by renaming its Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards AFB after him.

The Los Angeles Daily News reports Rep. Ken Calvert is preparing legislation to rename the center after Armstrong (shown above), who in 1969 became the first human to walk on the moon.

"He's certainly an American hero, a world hero for that matter, and this is the type of recognition he deserves," Calvert said, adding his proposal would still honor aerodynamics expert Hugh Dryden... by naming a test range after him.

The legislation reportedly has the backing of several space advocates, as well as others in the Antelope Valley surrounding Edwards.

California Space Authority Deputy Director Janice Dunn believes renaming Dryden would better reflect the center's increasingly aerospace-oriented programs.

"It'll help reflect that the center does indeed have an active participation in space exploration," said Dunn. "It's kind of lost that the center has a space exploration connection."

There is also the subject of name recognition, as nearly everyone recognizes the name Neil Armstrong. Far fewer people know that Hugh Dryden was an aerodynamics expert who headed the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics -- forerunner to NASA -- and later served as the new agency's deputy administrator.

Dryden also helped launch the X-15 rocketplane program, before passing away in 1956.

Calvert, the ranking Republican member of the House Space and Aeronautics subcommittee, says under his plan the Western Aeronautical Test Range would be renamed for Dryden. The range provides radar and GPS coverage for the restricted airspace over and to the north of Edwards.

When informed of the proposal by Calvert, Armstrong told the congressman he would not take a position on the matter.

FMI: www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/home/index.html