posted 09-13-2008 04:14 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:

Facts are indeed stubborn things, but the McCain-Palin lies are more stubborn still.

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Perhaps your post should have ended with just the Armstrong story, and we would have all appreciated the humor. Each person on this forum has his or her own political views, but we should limit our discussions here to topic of space policy and not let it spill over into the noise we are already drowning in from cable news.

When it comes to lies, one could consider all of the promises made during campaigns that never come to fruition and hang that title on them. I worry that both candidates have been speaking to a soon-to-be unemployed aerospace workforce and saying what needs to be said in order to get elected. If they fail to deliver on the promises they have made, each could be called a liar.

Past administrations have put us in a position with the, what?, $100 billion ISS where a skirmish on the other side of the world threatens access to our own investment.

These are big issues to us which are appropriate for discussion on this board, but let's stay away from the mud slinging here.

I certainly hope you are safe in the wake if Ike down there.

posted 09-13-2008 04:39 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by 328KF:
Perhaps your post should have ended with just the Armstrong story, and we would have all appreciated the humor.

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posted 09-13-2008 07:45 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by LCDR Scott Schneeweis:
...which definitely has its eyes on the stars.

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posted 09-13-2008 08:18 PM               

As a symbol of that commitment, we share the vision of returning Americans to the moon as a step toward a mission to Mars. In advancing our country's space and aeronautics program, NASA will remain one of the world's most important pioneers in technology, and from its explorations can come tremendous benefits for mankind."

• Ensure that space exploration is top priority and that the U.S. remains a leader;

• Commit to funding the NASA Constellation program to ensure it has the resources it needs to begin a new era of human space exploration.

posted 09-22-2008 05:21 PM               

In an extremely cautiously worded e-mail statement, the campaign said that Obama wanted to ensure that the next president has "as much flexibility as possible" in determining U.S. space policy to close the gap between the retirement of the space shuttle and the advent of the next generation of space craft that could return astronauts to the moon as a first step to going to Mars.

This "flexibility," the campaign said, could include "increasing funding for an additional shuttle flight, freezing NASA efforts to retire the shuttle, accelerating the development of the next generation vehicle, tapping the ingenuity of the commercial space industry, and passing a waiver to enable us to use Soyuz vehicles if necessary".

In other words, Obama clearly wants all options available to him if he is elected president in November. But he equally clearly does not want to make a commitment to any specific plan, be it extending the life of the shuttle, buying Soyuz or something in between.

posted 09-22-2008 11:05 PM               

Obama Calls on Senate and House Leadership to Renew America's Commitment to NASA

U.S. Senator Barack Obama today sent the following letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, calling to renew our country's commitment to NASA and to provide a budget with sufficient resources for success in its critical missions - space exploration and human spaceflight, science and aeronautics research.

The text of the letter is below:

Dear Majority Leader Reid and Madam Speaker Pelosi:

This Administration's lack of leadership for our nation's space program has left Americans without access to space or the ability to support its astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) without paying Russia for transportation. The ISS is a world-class research facility, built with approximately $100 billion of U.S. taxpayers' money. With the planned retirement of the Space Shuttle in 2010, the U.S. will be paying Russia for rides to and from the ISS, and for emergency lifeboat services, using their Soyuz spacecraft. Furthermore, at the end of 2011, NASA will no longer even have the legal authority to continue paying Russia for Soyuz flights, so unless we act immediately, the U.S. will abandon its role in supporting, and benefiting from, missions to this amazing facility, leaving it to our international partners.

The Bush administration's plan to have astronauts explore beyond low-earth orbit, returning to the Moon and then on to Mars, has never been funded adequately. In order to pay for this program, all other NASA programs have been short-changed from our important earth and space science missions to investment in critical aeronautics programs. The very engine of innovation for our nation, investment in research and technology, has been all but eliminated at NASA. America needs to renew its commitment to NASA and to provide sustained, stable direction with an honest budget and sufficient resources for success across all of its critical missions: Human Spaceflight, Science, and Aeronautics Research.

As Dr. Michael Griffin, the NASA administrator, said recently, "In a rational world, (NASA) would have been allowed to pick a Shuttle retirement date to be consistent with Ares/Orion availability, (NASA) would have been asked to deploy Ares/Orion as early as possible (rather than "not later than 2014") and we would have been provided the necessary budget to make it so" [NASA e-mail, 8/18/08]. Regrettably, the current administration has not behaved rationally and, with the Russian invasion of Georgia, NASA is now left with more limited options, all of them much worse than if the administration and their Republican allies in Congress had thought through the strategic consequences of these decisions five years ago.

Because of this failure of leadership, America is now faced with three less-than-optimal options:

• Ask Congress to renew the existing waiver for the Iran-North Korea-Syria Non-proliferation Act (INKSNA) and rely on Russia to launch and retrieve our own astronauts on the Space Station between the imminent retirement of the Space Shuttle and the first launch of an operational replacement for the Shuttle.

• Do nothing and abandon American commitments to the International Space Station between 2012 and 2015, relinquishing our $100 billion dollar investment to the Russians and our other international partners.

• Increase NASA's funding significantly to extend our use of the Space Shuttle beyond 2010 as partial mitigation for the gap in American access to low-earth orbit and for our dependence on Soyuz, while also providing a smoother transition of NASA's Shuttle workforce, infrastructure, and capabilities to new systems.

Administrator Griffin has initiated an analysis of the third option to determine its feasibility, cost, and schedule implications. The results should be available in the November timeframe so that the President-elect's transition team can prepare appropriate action along with appropriate FY2010 budgeting. NASA's appropriators, however, should be prepared to consider increasing NASA's budget to extend safe Shuttle operations beyond 2010 and to accelerate government and private-sector efforts to provide human access to low-earth orbit. Any effort to extend the Shuttle program must receive adequate funding, ensuring that progress on developing new vehicles is not further delayed by diverting funds to the Shuttle.

In the meantime, while we await the results of NASA's Shuttle study, there are three concrete steps that Congress should take immediately. I urge you to:

• Extend NASA's waiver of INKSNA so we keep that option open for allowing U.S. astronauts to utilize the ISS beyond 2011.

• Demand that NASA take no further action that would make it more difficult or expensive to fly the Shuttle beyond 2010.

• Provide additional funding in FY2009 above that contemplated in the pending appropriations bills to support the single extra Shuttle flight already approved overwhelmingly by both House and Senate authorizers earlier this year.

NASA should be funded appropriately to carry out its important goals. In 1961, President Kennedy inspired America to explore the heavens. He set difficult goals for NASA but, importantly, he and a Democratic Congress provided NASA with the resources necessary for success. And succeed they did. NASA helped America win the Cold War without firing a single shot by dazzling the world with our technological and moral leadership. It is time to dazzle them again.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama
United States Senator

posted 09-23-2008 12:25 AM               

NASA helped America win the Cold War without firing a single shot by dazzling the world with our technological and moral leadership.

I do wish that his staff had done some more research on their Cold War history, as many airmen from both sides were lost by hostile fire, the Francis Gary Powers incident being the most public.

posted 09-23-2008 12:43 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by 328KF:
I do wish that his staff had done some more research on their Cold War history, as many airmen from both sides were lost by hostile fire, the Francis Gary Powers incident being the most public.

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But I fail to see any relationship between NASA and a Cold War "victory"- if that's what you meant.

And first of all, it's time to dazzle your own country! And we'll follow. We're pretty good at that...

posted 09-23-2008 08:24 AM               

NASA provided considerable support to US National Intelligence Agencies that proved very beneficial to US prosecution of the Cold War - could be a whole other thread so wont get into it here.

posted 09-26-2008 11:20 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by cspg:
Your point being?

But I fail to see any relationship between NASA and a Cold War "victory"- if that's what you meant.

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Now if you read that as "America won the Cold War, and NASA assisted without firing a single shot", then I understand your post.

Either way, it is clear that Sen Obama has been "tuned in" to the space program as of late, sometimes times for it's patriot, nostalgic aspect which plays well in a stump speech. At other times, like in tonight's debate, he uses it to highlight the growing technological prowess of Communist China by mentioning the Shenzhou VII flight (although incorrectly stating that the spacewalk was already accomplished).

I know there are many other pressing issues today, the economy being #1, but I do wish we would hear more from the candidates on the space industry in the U.S. and the upcoming flight gap. Every time the subject of Russia comes up, I wait to hear about the relationship to the ISS and continued U.S. reliance on the purchase of rides from Russia, but no one seems to have picked up on that yet.

The international partners in ISS have a huge investment in money, time, and resources and in the very near future Russia will be holding the only keys to the car.

posted 09-26-2008 11:33 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by 328KF:
The international partners in ISS have a huge investment in money, time, and resources and in the very near future Russia will be holding the only keys to the car.

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True. But the international partners probably have a more nuanced approach when it comes to dealing with Russia. After all, we've just signed a contract for 10 Soyuz launches from Kourou! At least from a European perspective; what about Canada and Japan?

posted 10-05-2008 08:06 PM               

Sen. Obama Issues Statement on World Space Week

Senator Barack Obama issued the following statement today on World Space Week and the 50th Anniversary of the inception of NASA:

"This week, we join more than 50 nations around the world in celebrating World Space Week. And this year, as we mark the 50th anniversary of NASA, our space program is at a crossroads.

As other countries are moving forward in space, my opponent's vision would cause us to fall unacceptably behind. His pledge to freeze all discretionary spending for programs other than veterans and defense would assure the loss of thousands of jobs in Florida, and seriously threaten America's leadership in space. I have a different vision. My plan to revitalize our space program will reduce the gap between the Space Shuttle's retirement and its next-generation replacement; and we'll increase funding for a robust human space exploration program and research that pushes the very boundaries of discovery.

Throughout its history, NASA has united Americans to a common purpose and inspired the world with accomplishments we are still proud of. As President, I will lead NASA down a new path for the 21st century that guarantees our preeminence in space today, tomorrow, and the day NASA celebrates its 100th anniversary."

posted 10-06-2008 07:26 PM               

Last week, John McCain and Barack Obama came together to support the economic rescue plan. Three weeks earlier, they came together in remembrance of Sept. 11, 2001. Those mature and bipartisan acts beg the question: What other issues should cause these men to speak with one voice? More important, since it will be somewhat anti-climatic that they speak with one voice come Nov. 5, what issues should cause our government to speak in unison?

Clearly, it’s a nomination list that could be endless. To start the ball rolling, and as one who has written and consulted on the subject, I would volunteer our woefully under-funded and mostly politically rudderless space program. And this month, as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration celebrates its 50th anniversary, is the perfect time.

posted 10-08-2008 06:04 PM               

Statement About Senator John McCain's Comments At The Presidential Debate

Last night, during the presidential debate in Nashville, Tennessee, Senator John McCain made the following statement:

McCain: "While we were working to eliminate these pork barrel earmarks he (Senator Obama) voted for nearly $1 billion in pork barrel earmark projects. Including $3 million for an overhead projector at a planetarium in Chicago, Illinois. My friends, do we need to spend that kind of money?"

To clarify, the Adler Planetarium requested federal support - which was not funded - to replace the projector in its historic Sky Theater, the first planetarium theater in the Western Hemisphere. The Adler's Zeiss Mark VI projector - not an overhead projector - is the instrument that re-creates the night sky in a dome theater, the quintessential planetarium experience. The Adler's projector is nearly 40 years old and is no longer supported with parts or service by the manufacturer. It is only the second planetarium projector in the Adler's 78 years of operation.

Science literacy is an urgent issue in the United States. To remain competitive and ensure national security, it is vital that we educate and inspire the next generation of explorers to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math.

Senator McCain's statements about the Adler Planetarium's request for federal support do not accurately reflect the museum's legislative history or relationship with Senator Obama.

The Adler has approached the Illinois Congressional delegation the last few years for federal assistance with various initiatives. These have included museum exhibitions, equipment and educational programs we offer to area schools, including the Chicago Public Schools.

We have made requests to Senators Durbin and Obama, as well as to 6 area Congressmen from both political parties. We are grateful that all of the Members we have approached, including Senator Obama, have deemed our activities worthy of their support, and have made appropriations requests on our behalf, as they have for many worthy Illinois nonprofit organizations.

As a result of the hard work of our bipartisan congressional delegation, the Adler has been fortunate to receive a few federal appropriations the past couple of years.

However, the Adler has never received an earmark as a result of Senator Obama's efforts. This is clearly evidenced by recent transparency laws implemented by the Congress, which have resulted in the names of all requesting Members being listed next to every earmark in the reports that accompany appropriations bills.

posted 10-08-2008 07:19 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
In a letter obtained by NASA Watch, NASA Administrator Mike Griffin praised Sen. Obama for his role in obtaining the waiver to the Iran, North Korea and Syria Non-Proliferation Act (INKSA)

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"...but added that he sent similar letters to other members of Congress."

Here's how the vote went:

Obama (D-IL), Not Voting
Biden (D-DE), Not Voting
McCain (R-AZ), Not Voting

posted 10-09-2008 06:33 PM               

Obama Touts Connection to Space Program in New National Ad

Barack Obama launched a new national television ad today that prominently features Apollo Astronauts as Obama recounts how they inspired his early days. In the 60-second ad entitled "Buster," Obama speaks directly to the camera about the lessons he learned from the early space program and what it taught him about America.

The ad is the first by either presidential candidate to highlight the space program. Obama has pledged to increase NASA funding to save Florida jobs and maintain America's leadership in space. Senator McCain has pledged to freeze discretionary spending in his first year, which would negatively impact the space program.

To draw attention to the growing space gap between the candidates, Obama's Campaign for Change teamed up with the Space Coast Labor Council yesterday to phone bank Space Coast residents and contrast Obama's plans to invest in the region with McCain's spending freeze. Prior to the phonebank, the campaign held a press conference with two workers recently laid off at Cape Canaveral. Rick Rinaldi, 58, and Kelvin Davis, 43, explained that they'd both been the victim of "budget cuts," and were concerned about supporting their families and maintaining their quality of life. Davis told reporters of Obama's plan to invest in saving Space Coast jobs, "my family and other families that have been affected by these layoffs, an these cut backs, would highly appreciate it. and would like it." Rinaldi added of McCain's plan to freeze spending, "how can you grow jobs if you are freezing government spending?"

The new Obama television spot can be found here. It is running in Florida and other key battleground states.

The ad script follows:

I'm Barack Obama and I approve this message.

BO: One of my earliest memories going with my grandfather to see some of the astronauts brought back after a splashdown, sitting on his shoulders waving a little American flag. And my grandfather would say you know boy American's we can do anything that we put our minds to.

VO: His grandfather fought in Patton's army, his grandmother worked on a bomber assembly line. But it was his mother who would see in him a promise.

BO: My mother said to herself, my son he's an American and he needs to understand what that means. She'd wake me up at 4:30 in the morning and we'd sit there and go through my lessons. And I'd complain and grumble and she'd say this is no picnic for me either buster.

VO: His life was shaped by the values he learned as a boy.

BO: Hard work, honesty, self-reliance, respect for other people, kindness, faith. That's the country I believe in.

posted 10-10-2008 10:00 AM               

John McCain: Statement on World Space Week

The following information was released by campaign office of Senator John McCain:

This week marks World Space Week. Celebrated across the US and in over 50 nations, World Space Week is another great example of international cooperation for a common cause. Its goal is to inspire the workforce of tomorrow and educate the public about space. Participants include NASA, aerospace companies, planetariums, museums, schools, and others around the world.

I'm glad to see this annual public and student focus on space. Indeed, for Americans to excel in the world marketplace, our young people must excel in math, science and engineering. The U.S. government and commercial space sector provides many opportunities for students with an exciting and long-term vision for the future by developing the technologies that will take us beyond low-Earth orbit.

The United States has always been a nation of explorers and will continue to be, if I am elected your next President. Because of this national commitment to exploration and our desires to further our knowledge of the world we live in, we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of NASA this year.

At the same time, space is a great tool to promote peace and international cooperation. Therefore, we must explore all options to complete and fully utilize one of the great achievements of mankind, the International Space Station National Laboratory. It represents a tremendous investment of public funds and should not be put at risk by cutting funding for NASA programs as my opponent in this election had previously proposed. This may be his definition of change, but it is not the type of change that the nation or the world needs. I'm pleased to see so many nations cooperate on the annual World Space Week.

The theme for World Space Week 2008 is 'Exploring the Universe.' By exploring our next frontier, space activities push back the boundaries of scientific knowledge. Space also has direct impact on daily lives, from daily communications, to predicting the daily weather, to understanding and protecting the Earth's environment, to responding to natural disasters.

On the occasion of World Space Week, I salute our nation's proud space sector and as President will ensure that America continues its leadership in space.

posted 10-18-2008 11:46 AM               

Both Bush's made great plans for NASA...but didn't provide funds. In the past Democrats like Mondale fought to cut NASA.

Money talks.

The more important question is: can NASA Administrator Griffin work both sides of the aisle? He's trying...

posted 10-18-2008 08:16 PM               

Sen. John McCain came to the space coast today and promised $2 billion to help NASA transition from the space shuttle to a new space vehicle.

"I've always been a strong supporter of manned space flight and NASA," he said in a community that is home to many in the field. "If I'm elected president I won't cut NASA funds like Sen. Obama." McCain aides noted that Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee, had promised to pay for education programs by delaying the Constellation space program, which is meant to fill the gap to the next space vehicle, only to backtrack later.

"My friends, we just saw the Chinese. We saw them in space," McCain told an afternoon rally of about 2,000 people. "We've got competition. We've got to stay ahead. We will be the first nation to Mars."

His speech here was nearly identical to one he delivered earlier in the day in Miami. But he replaced a paragraph from the Miami speech promising to pressure the Cuban government with the paragraph about NASA.

McCain has promised deep spending cuts and he again vowed a spending freeze to get control of the federal budget. "I will freeze government spending on all but the most important programs like defense, veterans care, Social Security and health care and others," he said. He did not say whether the $2 billion in new money for NASA would be included in the programs that are spared.

UPDATE: A Florida-based Obama spokeswoman, Adrianne Marsh, said that Obama committed in August to the needed $2 billion for the Constellation program. The campaign, she said, found other ways to pay for the education program. And she said that McCain's embrace of the program now is not trustworthy given his promises to freeze domestic spending.

"Funding for NASA is critical. We're talking year by year," she said. "We're committed to closing that gap and keeping jobs in Florida."

posted 10-22-2008 09:50 AM               

Statement from Barack Obama on India's Lunar Launch

With India's launch of its first unmanned lunar spacecraft following closely on the heels of China's first spacewalk, we are reminded just how urgently the United States must revitalize its space program if we are to remain the undisputed leader in space, science, and technology.

My comprehensive plan to revitalize the space program and close the gap between the Space Shuttle's retirement and its next-generation replacement includes $2 billion more for NASA - but more money alone is not enough. We must not only retain our space workforce so that we don't let other countries surpass our technical capabilities; we must train new scientists and engineers for the next generation. My comprehensive space policy focuses on reaching new frontiers through human space exploration, tapping the ingenuity of our commercial space entrepreneurs, fostering a broad research agenda to break new ground on the world's leading scientific discoveries, and engaging students through educational programs that excite them about space and science.

As a child, I remember sitting on my grandfather's shoulders and watching the Apollo astronauts return from a splashdown to Hickam Air Force Base, dreaming of where they had been. It inspired my imagination and gave me confidence in what we as Americans could achieve. It's time for a space program that inspires our children again. As President, I will lead our space program boldly into the 21st Century - so when my daughters, and all our children, look up to the skies, they see Americans leading the way into the deepest reaches of our solar system.

posted 10-22-2008 07:39 PM               

As a child, I remember sitting on my grandfather's shoulders and watching the Apollo astronauts return from a splashdown to Hickam Air Force Base, dreaming of where they had been.

posted 10-22-2008 07:52 PM               

He did have a maternal grandfather also. That's the man he refers to in the commercial and statement.

posted 10-22-2008 08:55 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by KSCartist:
He did have a maternal grandfather also.

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posted 10-23-2008 11:08 AM               

Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama, wooing voters in Florida, are promising hefty spending increases for space-exploration programs popular in the battleground state, despite broader pledges of fiscal discipline.

Both candidates are vying to outdo each other by promising up to an additional $2 billion to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Constellation project. With a current annual budget of about $4 billion, the project is aimed at transitioning the U.S. from the Space Shuttle to a new fleet of manned-exploration vehicles and cargo spacecraft able to go to the moon and perhaps beyond.

The pledge marks a change in position for Sen. Obama. Last November, he sparked grumbling among some Florida voters and politicians by announcing he would help pay for some early education programs by delaying work on the Constellation project. The Democratic presidential candidate has said all of his proposals for new spending are paid for with spending cuts or tax increases.

Sen. McCain, who returns to the region Thursday, has never said he would delay the NASA project. But the Republican presidential nominee has called for a one-year spending freeze on all but the most "vital programs." He often cites veterans programs and defense as examples of spending that can't be frozen. As for the rest, he has said he is ready to take a "hatchet and a scalpel" to the budget.

posted 10-28-2008 01:12 PM               

Over the weekend, Apollo 7 astronaut Walt Cunningham toured cities around Florida to help promote Republican hopeful Sen. John McCain's campaign by backing the candidate and his space platform.

Cunningham said he had never campaigned for a candidate before but said that unlike Democratic contender Sen. Barack Obama, McCain had a track record supporting NASA and was more reliable on the issue. Obama, he said, was a new-comer to space and not to be trusted.

Not to be outdone, the "Obamanauts", a group of Space Coast Obama backers, today announced that they have seen the McCain campaign's Apollo bet and raised the ante by two shuttle astronauts.

According to a press release, Apollo astronaut Rusty Schweickart, founder and past president of the Association of Space Explorers (ASE), and former Space Shuttle astronauts Dr. Kathy Thornton, and Dr. Dan Barry have joined the "Obamanauts" to show their support for Obama's space policies.

posted 10-29-2008 12:29 AM               

1. Does it matter who backs who? When you're about to cast your vote, does it matter that Cunningham prefers McCain/Palin?
   
2. Do we need to know whom astronauts will vote for (valid as well for Hollywood)?

posted 10-29-2008 08:43 AM               

Endorsements can sometimes offer insight into the candidates' policies. For example, were all the retired astronauts to step forward and speak out do so for one candidate over the other, one might take that into consideration when deciding who's space policy is more favorable to crewed space flight. If astronauts endorse both parties, as has happened, that might help balance voters' opinions of the two platforms.

So with that in mind, here is another astronaut's endorsement, offered by Sally Ride, as appeared in today's Orlando Sentinel:

Somewhere in America today, there's a 10-year-old girl who could be the first person to walk on Mars. She's probably playing with a toy chemistry set or a kid's telescope right now, gazing up at the heavens and dreaming big dreams. I know a lot about that girl because in 1961, during the inspirational early days of our space program, that was me.

The world that girl will enter, and in particular the state of our space and science industries, is different for her than it was for me. In some ways, she has greater opportunities. While still unacceptably behind men, women have more avenues to becoming scientists today than they did when I answered a call in a newspaper ad to become an astronaut. In other ways, our space program has lost the national stature it had when I was growing up. In both regards, though, we can and must do better.

I believe this election is critical to how well we will respond to these challenges. I believe it will determine how well and how quickly we sow the seeds of opportunity so that little girl dreaming big dreams can achieve them like I achieved mine. And with these beliefs in mind, I will be voting for Barack Obama and Joe Biden...