RELEASE: Griffith: ‘Administration Making Huge Mistake Cutting Constellation Program’
I’m on Congressman Griffith’s ‘press’ list now and I’ve been receiving almost daily press releases, including this one today:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 2, 2010
Contact: Brecke Latham
Here is the text of Griffith’s statement (he includes a YouTube video too):
“I’m extremely disappointed the President isn’t including any funding for the Constellation program in his 2011 budget proposal. The Administration is making a huge mistake,” said Griffith.
“We cannot interrupt this program – it is too important to the security of the United States. We depend on manned space flight – it is part of our culture, especially in our North Alabama community.
“Not granting more funding means that we are scrapping four and a half years and billions of dollars of testing. It means we are allowing other countries to get ahead of us in space exploration. If the Administration is able to carry out its plan, the U.S. will have a second-class space division. This decision is a clear sign that this Administration is out of touch with manned space flight.
“The budget that was submitted yesterday by the President is merely a proposal. I have contacted the White House and requested to meet as soon as possible about how we can bring about a solution. Congress has the ability to put this funding back into the budget and will have a final say in what is appropriated.”
I agree with Griffith (and Mo Brooks and Les Phillip) that cancelling Constellation is a mistake, then again US space policy has been a mess for awhile – but now it’s a steaming hot mess. This new policy creates a void in space access (even with Constellation we had a lag). Depending on the Russians for access to space is a bad plan. Depending on the private sector to develop an industry in a short time to fill the void is a bad plan (especially since the plan doesn’t call for NASA to use industry for launches).
Science and exploration are part of the American character – and the US Government has been (Constitutionally) promoting science and exploration since before Thomas Jefferson advocated that Congress authorize the Lewis and Clark expedition.
Just as with the Lewis and Clark expedition – exploration and national security interests overlap. Ceding space to the Russians and Chinese will cost us in terms of technology and jobs – and perhaps lives.
***
I am easily distracted, so I wondered who Parker Griffith has on his staff – in this case, who is this Brecke Latham who keeps sending me stuff? Well, she’s Simply Brecke-tacular…
Yeah Parker, don’t hold your breath until the phone rings…
The first thing the United States needs to do to get back on track in the space race is realize that we’re losing. In the 1960s and 1970s we were the undisputed top dog. We could land on the moon, play a round of golf, and then go for a joy ride. But now we have to recognize that we’re just not that good any more, and as much as it may pain Americans to hear, we need to look to Russia for ideas on how to run our space program better.
Russia is still running the 1960s Soyuz program and kicking our butts with it. It is cheaper, safer, and more efficient than the Space Shuttle. It’s run over 100 missions and (as far as I can tell through a few minutes of online research) hasn’t had a death since 1971. We may have created some flashy vehicles that did some really neat stuff, but Russia produced the Ford F-150 of spaceships.
My mother, a deputy director for one of NASA’s contractors is working on the Constellation program, and I think she exemplifies our problems. Just yesterday, while reviewing a presentation she had to ask me what “heliophysics” means. While it’s a term your average layman wouldn’t know, you’d think someone who’s made a career working on space technology would know that “helio” refers to the sun (as in heliocentric – the concept that the planets in our solar system orbit the sun). I’m an avid space nut, and whenever I talk to her, I bring up whatever’s new in space technology, mostly Virgin Galactic these days. She hadn’t even heard of the Ansari X prize or the Google Lunar X prize, which is a sign that she lacks any sort of curiosity or enthusiasm about space exploration.
I’d chalk this up as a fluke, except that to be completely oblivious about these other programs must mean that no one in her office is talking about them. That’s both shocking and sad. Our space program has basically just become a contest of giant industries who couldn’t care less about space travel competing over cushy government contracts. The scientists and engineers doing the bulk of the work are really just line workers in a billable hour factory, punching in and punching out with no real concern for what happens above our stratosphere.
If we want to become the world leader in space travel again, we need to restore our sense of pride in space exploration and our government needs to take back ownership of the space program. It feels bizarre that this is even a thing to say, but the US needs to nationalize space exploration (or give all our contracts to Virgin Galactic, because those guys are the real space cowboys).
“…and I did everything I could to stop it– including giving up my committee seat.”
Seriously, Parker… What on earth did you think would happen?
Who cares what the lame duck says? He can quack as loud as he wants.