Will NASA Take A Back Seat?

With all of the challenges facing our nation at this time it appears that the ambitions of our nation’s space program will once again take a back seat to other concerns of policymakers. While perhaps understandable, the agenda of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has become a regrettable case study for those who follow public policy of the ebb and flow of national priorities. Forty years ago the U.S. was on the verge of accomplishing what many thought impossible – landing a man on the moon and returning him safely back to earth. Soon our astronauts will be hitching rides with Russian cosmonauts aboard their aging Soyuz space capsules to get to and from the international space station. Such an arrangement would have been unthinkable in the early days of the space race and must surely send shivers down the spine of those who had anything to do with the amazing accomplishments of the 60’s and early 70’s.

NASA suggests that the shuttle program is winding down to a close with the last launch to happen soon. A new spacecraft design is being proposed but it won’t be ready for several years, if everything goes as planned. This leaves the United States without its own means to the space station we helped design and finance.

Certainly, the cold war is over and times have changed. We no longer experience the fearful animosity toward Russia that we had then for the former Soviet Union. Nevertheless, this gradual turn of events is very unsettling to some who can remember sitting in front of a black and white TV or a transistor radio to witness Neil Armstrong’s first step on the moon. Perhaps it is the realization of the loss of something great – leadership and reputation. Perhaps, if we are honest with ourselves, there is still some lingering fear about the intentions of Russia.

Learned economists and policymakers are able to demonstrate the many residual benefits of our early leadership in space exploration. They describe advances in computer technology that made today’s personal computing possible. They might also mention satellite technologies that led to more accurate weather forecasting, wireless communication, cell phone and GPS technology and so much more. The list of long-term benefits is long.

President Elect Obama will have the opportunity through his policy making, as other modern presidents before him, to either strengthen NASA and it’s role in our political and scientific landscape or to minimize it – making it more likely that our astronauts will be dependent on the kindness of others for their way out of this world.

Cash for Clunker Program

Congratulations, you are now the partial owner of the SUV you were wise enough not to buy in the first place. In President Obama's attempt to revitalize the U.S auto industry, he will sign into law the Cash for Clunker program which will give owners of gas guzzling vehicles a financial reward for turning them in for newer, more efficient vehicles. I applaud the attempt to minimize our nation's dependency on oil and largess but rewarding people for their bad choices with tax dollars is getting old with me. I'm begging our legislators and our new administration to think twice before spending any more money on those whose bad choices caused these problems to begin with.