Take the Right Stand for Constellation

In the wake of the new budget's announcement, Central Florida and the nation have taken a strong step backwards. With the President's refusal to fund future manned space flight for NASA and the cancellation of the Constellation Project, the nation is going to take a hit. 5 years and billions of dollars are going to be tossed by the wayside so we can depend on Russia to allow us use of the ISS.

The government funded manned space program has been a major part of the American character over the past 60 years. It has inspired the nation and proven that with hard work and dedication dreams can come true. With every launch, people flock to the space coast to stand in the hot sun or in the cool of night and watch in awe with their heads tipped back and eyes to the sky as that shuttle lifts off. A launch of our astronauts into space creates a moment in time where we stand as a nation in hope, and joy of what we can accomplish. NASA has not only created heroes in astronauts but in the engineers, designers, and workers who created the technology. It has caused children to dream of careers in math, science and engineering. NASA has proved that anything is possible if you can dare to imagine it. In essence, NASA's manned space flight is the American dream.

The loss of government funded manned space flight will be a blow not just with the technology that could have been created but to the strength of the American character and the loss of a driving force for children to follow their dreams into space.

Now is the time for Congress to stand united. Now is the time to support the hopes and dreams for NASA's future in space. Now is the time to push for continued funding for the Constellation Project regardless of how hard the President fights it.

Stand up for your constituents. Stand up for your history. Stand up for the dream.


Signed,
The Daughter of the Electorate

American Space Program

The President is seeking to single-handedly end the American Space Program. He wants NASA to research and monitor climate change. That is a job for NOAA. We could save tax dollars and use simple observation – better known as the WKRP method. The climate is cooling. It has been for the last ten years. Some are just unwilling to accept this fact.

NASA is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The President is trying to take the Space out of NASA. It would be short-sighted in the extreme to end the Space Program. We are the leader in space exploration and development. Why do we seek to throw this away? Does Washington just feel the need to denigrate American exceptionalism? Should we just throw away what we have already invested in our Space Program – all the money and lives?

We can not depend on Russia for access to the Space Station. Russia is not our friend. Once Russia controls sole access to the Space Station, Russia owns the Space Station. It can do whatever it wants with it. It could even militarize it. We could not prevent it. We would be a third world country of space. Commercial flights to the Space Station would not be available for many years. If nothing else, we need to maintain a limited shuttle program until the gap is filled. Two shuttles could be kept flight ready. The other shuttle could be used for parts. Even if we only flew two missions a year, we would still be in the game.

Should one man be allowed to destroy the entire United States Space Program? NASA is a mere drop in the federal budget. The government wastes money on turtle tunnels and swine manure research, but our Space Program is expendable? Where are Washington’s priorities? It is now up to Congress.

Will Congress allow the Dream to live on or will it throw away all that we have accomplished?