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Obama hails heroism of Apollo 11 astronauts

President Obama on Monday hailed the Apollo 11 astronauts who made it to the moon 40 years ago as "genuine American heroes" and "the touchstone for excellence in exploration and discovery."

Welcoming Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin to the White House, Obama said the lunar landing and subsequent walk on the moon by Armstrong and Aldrin continued to inspire young people to study math and science of hopes of becoming astronauts.

The Apollo 11 anniversary has raised questions about whether the United States should resume moon missions. Obama's comments made no mention of specific missions, but he noted the presence of NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and his deputy, Lori Garver, and said the space agency would continue to fulfill its role as a source of inspiration.
Read entire article at CNN