NPR ran a story yesterday on the presidential candidates' views on space. Indiana, home of Purdue University, which has graduated 22 astronauts, and North Carolina go to the polls today and take us one step closer to our next president.
But a question that is of increasing concern among space scientists, engineers and supporters is what will the new president's space policy do? For many space voters there is a deep fear that the industry may face yet another deep re-evaluation of priorities, program "deferrals" or cancellations. In my 12 years in the work force I have seen little but that and there has been a huge cost financially, technically, and culturally that we are still bearing.
NPR's Jeremy Hobson went to the candidates to get their plans -- er, "initial thoughts."
That is a reference to Obama's published plan to divert $5 billion from NASA's budget to use for education. It's a plan that leaves space supporters' heads spinning. Without a strong viable industry, they wonder, what kids are going to sit through four years of calculus and engineering to be a part of it? What about the kids who did do that who are now looking to put their brains to work building rockets?
What the Obama campaign, without a space policy expert on their team, is faced with is trying to make a policy without being clear on the unintended consequences of "delaying" the moon program five years and what some of the alternatives might be.
McCain's team, who also don't have a space specialist, hint that they would likely maintain the Bush policy, though if that means supporting the Vision for Space Exploration is unclear...
The Clinton campaign has given thought to this issue and that is largely the result of Lori Garver, a former NASA Associate Administrator, being a part of the team.
What is exciting is that space policy is on the national stage and more and more people are paying attention, whether it is because of the importance of Florida voters in November, the number of exciting, challenging jobs the industry provides, fear of China, or just a clear sense that we urgently need to create a future that is bold enough and inspiring enough to call forth "the best of our energies and skills".
It is time for the United States to get its best space minds working on presidential policy and time for a space program powerful enough that kids are demanding an education to support their dream of using space to make a difference here on Earth. What kind of space leaders would that take?
Candidates' space ideas lack launch pad [NPR]
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