posted 10-04-2007 11:09 AM               

Hillary Clinton's Agenda to Reclaim Scientific Innovation

On the 50th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik, Hillary Clinton today vowed to end the Bush Administration's war on science and announced her agenda to promote scientific discovery in research, medicine and space exploration.

"For six and half years under this president, it's been open season on open inquiry. And by ignoring or manipulating science, the Bush administration is letting our economic competitors get an edge in the global economy," Clinton said.

"I believe we have to change course - and I know America is ready. What America achieved after Sputnik is a symbol of what America can do now as we confront a new global economy, new environmental challenges, and the promise of new discoveries in medicine. America led in the 20th century - and with new policies and a renewed commitment to scientific integrity and innovation, America is ready to lead in the 21st."

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Hillary will enhance American leadership in space, including:

• Pursuing an ambitious 21st century Space Exploration Program, by implementing a balanced strategy of robust human spaceflight, expanded robotic spaceflight, and enhanced space science activities.

• Developing a comprehensive space-based Earth Sciences agenda, including full funding for NASA's Earth Sciences program and a space-based Climate Change Initiative that will help us secure the scientific knowledge we need to combat global warming.

• Promoting American leadership in aeronautics by reversing funding cuts to NASA's and FAA's aeronautics R&D budget.

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Enhancing American Leadership in Space

Pursue an Ambitious 21st century Space Exploration Program. Hillary is committed to a space exploration program that involves robust human spaceflight to complete the Space Station and later human missions, expanded robotic spaceflight probes of our solar system leading to future human exploration, and enhanced space science activities. She will speed development, testing, and deployment of next-generation launch and crew exploration vehicles to replace the aging Space Shuttle. And in pursuing next-generation programs, Hillary will capitalize on the expertise of the current Shuttle program workforce and will not allow a repeat of the "brain drain" that occurred between the Apollo and shuttle missions.

Develop a comprehensive space-based Earth Sciences agenda. A National Academy of Sciences report found that "[a]t a time of unprecedented need, the nation's Earth observation satellite programs, once the envy of the world, are in disarray." (NAS final report of the Decadal Survey Panel, [January 2007].) Incredibly, the number of operating sensors and instruments on NASA satellites that observe the Earth is likely to drop by 35 percent by 2010 and 50 percent by 2015. Among other things, NASA's Earth Sciences program is vital to our country's - and the world's - long-term efforts to confront climate change. Hillary will fully fund NASA's Earth Sciences program and initiate a Space-based Climate Change Initiative to help us secure the scientific knowledge we need to combat global warming and to prepare for extreme climate events.

Shore up American leadership in aeronautics. At the beginning of this year, President Bush requested roughly $554 million for NASA's aeronautics research budget, down from more than $1 billion in 2004. The United States has enjoyed a positive trade balance in aeronautics and aerospace technologies that runs into the tens of billions, even as we've faced a growing overall trade deficit. To address the twin challenges of a declining skilled aeronautics workforce and increasing global competition in aeronautics, Hillary will make the financial investments in research and development necessary to shore up and expand our competitive edge. She will also work in partnership with industry to build technologies and capabilities that yield benefits far beyond aerospace.

posted 10-04-2007 12:00 PM               

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Originally posted by LCDR Scott Schneeweis:
She has a propensity for doing/saying anything that will put her in the oval office.

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posted 10-04-2007 01:54 PM               

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Originally posted by LCDR Scott Schneeweis:
The last Clinton presidency did little to advance a coherent national space strategy and I have no reason to expect anything different if Ms Clinton is elected.

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posted 10-04-2007 02:05 PM               

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Originally posted by LCDR Scott Schneeweis:
The last Clinton presidency did little to advance a coherent national space strategy

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Or, to look at your comparison between the Clintons from a different perspective, the senior Bush announced a Mars program that went no where. Were we to solely judge the younger Bush's space efforts by the record set by his father, then we should and could expect Constellation to flounder.

posted 10-05-2007 11:16 AM               

But in a telephone interview afterward, she said that in the short term she would subordinate Bush administration proposals for human exploration of the Moon and Mars to restoring cuts in aeronautics research and space-based studies of climate change and other earth science issues.

Travel to the Moon or Mars "excites people," she said, "but I am more focused on nearer-term goals I think are achievable."

posted 10-05-2007 12:54 PM               

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Originally posted by DavidH:
A further clarification of yesterday's Clinton release, from The New York Times:

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posted 10-05-2007 01:11 PM               

She has to know that canceling both would mean massive layoffs and securing our future as a paying passenger in space exploration.

posted 10-05-2007 01:37 PM               

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Originally posted by capoetc:
When she says "more achievable", my guess is that she means "less likely to cost money that could better be spent on social programs"

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The fact that she thought space was important enough to address, not just in passing mention but devoting a substantial part of her press conference to the subject, says to me that she has a vested interest.

posted 10-05-2007 10:27 PM               

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Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
I tend to doubt that, mostly because she didn't have to talk about space at all.

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She was speaking to the Carnegie Institute of Washington. Here is their mission statement:

Andrew Carnegie established a unique organization dedicated to scientific discovery "in the broadest and most liberal manner." The philosophy was and is to devote the institution's resources to "exceptional" individuals so that they can explore the most intriguing scientific questions in an atmosphere of complete freedom. Carnegie and his trustees realized that flexibility and freedom were essential to the institution's success and that tradition is the foundation of the institution today as it supports research in the Earth, space, and life sciences.

posted 11-21-2007 12:26 PM               

Though Obama called for a renewed investment in math and science education, his plan would actually pull money from the federal government's greatest investments and achievements in math and science. Obama would delay funding for the NASA Constellation program for five years, though he would maintain the $500 million in funding the program would receive for its manufacturing and technology base, in order to help fund his education policy. The campaign did not say how much money delaying the program would provide.

posted 11-21-2007 07:10 PM               

How is Mr. Obama going to deal with the massive layoffs his five year delay would cause? How will he deal with the "brain drain" when thousands of people look for careers in other areas? Does he intend to continue flying the space shuttle? Or will he use his charm to negotiate special rates for US Astronauts to fly on Russian or Chinese rockets. Hey maybe we can get some frequesnt flier miles built up.

We don't vote in the primary until January 29th. I haven't decided yet but he won't get my vote unless I hear some satisfactory answers from his campaign. But hey, our votes won't count in the primaries anyway. Both parties are punishing us for having the temerity to move up the date of the primary.

posted 11-22-2007 10:20 AM               

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Originally posted by capoetc:
When she says "more achievable", my guess is that she means "less likely to cost money that could better be spent on social programs"

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New York Sen. Hillary Clinton supports efforts to send humans back to the Moon as part of her overall space and aeronautics platform, despite her failure to explicitly say so in a recent Washington speech. Clinton's campaign staff, which drafted the Democratic front-runner's October science and technology address at the Carnegie Institute for Science, says she will pursue "a successful and speedy transition from our aging space shuttle program -- which is set to go offline in 2010 -- to a next-generation space transportation system that can take us back to the Moon and beyond." Aides say the campaign issued the clarification after some publications -- including this one -- took the omission of the lunar exploration goal as Clinton advocating a change in direction from present policy.

posted 11-23-2007 10:54 AM               

Bill Clinton and his sidekick Al, despite saying the same flavor of things like his wife is now cut NASA's budget 7 out of his 8 years.

posted 11-23-2007 10:57 AM               

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Originally posted by LCDR Scott Schneeweis:
The last Clinton presidency did little to advance a coherent national space strategy

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quote:

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Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
To the contrary, were it not for Clinton, we would likely not have an International Space Station today, despite the project being started by Reagan and mismanaged by H.W. Bush. Say what you will about the value of the ISS, but without it, U.S. manned space flight would have come to a screeching halt on February 1, 2003 and without the justification of completing its construction, would have been far more difficult (politically) to restart.

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posted 11-23-2007 12:21 PM               

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Originally posted by jimsz:
A politician, especially one running for an office certainly can't be believed.

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posted 11-23-2007 03:03 PM               

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Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
As that is universal, then all are on an even playing field, and thus decisions can and must be made based on what they say.

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Stating you are supportive of the space program and then cutting it's budget is no less a budget cut simply because you spoke words people wish to hear.

Bill Clinton spoke about his support of the Space program as did Al Gore, yet they cut the budget 7 times. ( I am only using Clinton because his wife is currently saying the same things)

posted 11-23-2007 03:18 PM               

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Originally posted by jimsz:
Bill Clinton spoke about his support of the Space program as did Al Gore, yet they cut the budget 7 times.

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Congress controls the money, not the President.

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posted 11-28-2007 09:05 PM               

"We" space buffs can count on Gov. Huckabee but NOT Representative Tancredo!

Too bad only TWO of them got to respond!

posted 11-29-2007 05:53 AM               

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Originally posted by LCDR Scott Schneeweis:
I disagree - there are a few (rare) principled politicians who do not fit that mold and who do not routinely vacillate or tie their position to political expediency when queried.

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posted 11-29-2007 08:56 AM               

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Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
... there have been many politicians throughout the past 50 years who have said they do not favor the space program, especially in comparison to funding other programs.

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Clinton spoke of his support and Congress cut the budget. Clinton (or any other President) either was simply speaking the words to make himself look good or did not wish to make it a fight to get the money for what he claims he supported.

It is no different than any of the clowns candidates now seeking the Presidency.

Any of them will say anything to make an answer be supportive to the largest group of voters in front of them.

posted 12-03-2007 06:20 PM               

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Originally posted by FFrench:
I haven't read this book, but the reviews on that page make it sound like quite an interesting study of how little a president can in fact influence space policy compared to popular perceptions.

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You mean, like, by saying something like, "We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy but because they are hard"?

posted 12-03-2007 06:38 PM            

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Originally posted by John:
You mean, like, by saying something like, "We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy but because they are hard"?

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posted 12-03-2007 07:16 PM               

Elected US leaders, absent a national security threat like the Soviet Union posed, are unlikely to support the sort of huge budget increases NASA enjoyed from 1960-1972 (peaking in 1966).

Congress has held NASA's budget in check or trimmed it under both Republican and Democratic control during the past 13 years.

posted 12-11-2007 03:24 PM               

Space Exploration Alliance Calls for Candidates' Stance on Space Policy

The 2008 presidential campaigns have given far more attention to space exploration than any other in recent memory. Whether sparked by the release of Senator Hillary Clinton's space policy, by a citizen's space-related question at a YouTube Republican debate, or by comments from other candidates, space exploration is now being debated on the national stage. The Space Exploration Alliance believes that this attention is a very positive development, providing us with the opportunity to show the nation the true merits of our nation's space program.

The Space Exploration Alliance applauds Senator Hillary Clinton for releasing her comprehensive space policy and calls on all of the other presidential candidates to release the details of their policies for space exploration and NASA.

It is vital that our nation pursue an ambitious human and robotic space program. The scientific and technological benefits to our nation will be incalculable. This is particularly relevant in light of the other nations, such as China, India, and Russia, who are now challenging our superiority in space exploration and technology. Space technology and development has much to offer to the environmental and energy challenges facing our world today. Space exploration has the potential to inspire our youth to pursue the hard academic studies in mathematics and science we will require to remain competitive and move our society into the future.

The potential intellectual capital from these programs cannot be ignored. There is rarely a day that Congress and the media do not discuss the necessity to bolster our nation's science and engineering education. Returning to the Moon and then going to Mars would be a tremendous catalyst for education, particularly in these fields. According to Space Exploration Alliance Steering Committee member Chris Carberry, "As with the Apollo program, human exploration to the Moon and Mars has the potential to dramatically impact our nation's educational system. Sometimes you need a 'spark' of inspiration to motivate students to enter technical and scientific fields. This type of program can produce that 'spark' and allow students to be part of a program that is bigger than themselves."

"Now is the time for presidential candidates to announce their position on NASA and space exploration," stated Brett Silcox, Associate Director of the National Space Society. "Space exploration is of vital interest to our nation on many levels. We hope the candidates understand the power that our accelerated space programs can have and the benefits it can bring to our nation. The SEA encourages all candidates to make public their stance on space exploration."

About the Space Exploration Alliance

The Space Exploration Alliance (SEA) is an unprecedented partnership of the nation's premier non-profit space organizations with a combined membership of more than 700,000 people throughout the United States.

SEA members believe that the Vision is a bold and substantial mandate for human and robotic exploration of the solar system that will assure American technological and scientific preeminence in the 21st century.

posted 12-11-2007 04:21 PM               

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Originally posted by FFrench:
As the review on the page I linked to says, "Kennedy's bold decision to race the Soviets to the moon in the 1960s represents the high-water mark of presidential leadership in space matters" with later unsuccessful attempts standing "in contrast to Kennedy's Apollo decision" - so I am not really sure what point you are trying to make that is not answered on the page.

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My point is, Presidential leadership can make a big difference if the President is willing to expend political capital to back up their position. None since Kennedy has been willing to do so, mostly because none since Kennedy have had the opportunity to use the space program as part of a grand global strategy.

So, IMO, a President can make a big difference ... most simply choose to expend political capital elsewhere.

posted 01-01-2008 11:09 AM               

Barack Obama

Barack Obama's early education and K-12 plan package costs about $18 billion per year. He will maintain fiscal responsibility and prevent any increase in the deficit by offsetting cuts and revenue sources in other parts of the government. The early education plan will be paid for by delaying the NASA Constellation Program for five years.

Mike Huckabee

In response to the following question: "Is there a candidate amongst you willing to take a pledge on behalf of the Mars Society of sending an American to the surface of Mars by 2020? If not, what is your vision for human space exploration?"

"Whether we ought to go to Mars is not a decision that I would want to make, but I would certainly want to make sure that we expand the space program, because every one of us who are sitting here tonight have our lives dramatically improved because there was a space program -- whether it's these screens that we see or the incredible electronics that we use, including the GPS systems that got many of you to this arena tonight.

"Some of you were late because you didn't have one, by the way. Or whether it's the medical technologies that saved many of our lives or the lives or our families, it's the direct result of the space program, and we need to put more money into science and technology and exploration.

"Now, whether we need to send somebody to Mars, I don't know. But I'll tell you what: If we do, I've got a few suggestions, and maybe Hillary could be on the first rocket to Mars."