Sunday, June 5, 2016

Reaching For The Stars

Reaching For The Stars
By Stan G. Kain
December 5, 2003

Is it possible that we may hear about something other than war and fantasy economics from our leaders in Washington?  Somewhere between stories of casualties in Iraq, growing unemployment and unprecedented spending, lies a glimmer of hope for those of us who prefer pursuing peaceful goals.

White House aides say President George W. Bush is on the verge of calling for a return to the moon, as part of a dramatic new mission for NASA.  White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan says, "There are no plans for any policy announcements in the immediate future," however leaks attributed to NASA indicate otherwise.

The Bush Administration is competitive and insists upon American dominance in all respects.  An announcement by China, suggesting a lunar landing within the next two decades is adequate motivation for the Bush policy move.  Following the Columbia disaster, NASA became the victim of cost cutting, budget restrictions and resignations.  The policy turnaround from the Bush bunch suggests a move to outdo the Chinese.

Republican Senator Sam Brownback said, +You've got the Chinese saying they're interested - we don't want them to beat us to the Moon.  We want to be there to develop the sweet spots."  I don't know if the good Senator realizes we've already been to the moon, but I'm not going to tell him. if he's willing to support space exploration.  As for the "sweet spots," I suppose "strategic" or "military value" are synonymous.  Such would be the direction of this Administration.  I'll have to rely on international treaties to deter such ambitions.

Why do I have optimism for the moon landing and exploration policy?  Won't taxpayers carry the burden to finance NASA and development?  Of course we will!  My optimism is founded in the return on our investment, not on American superiority.  We're investing billions of dollars in the War on Terrorism and our return is young Americans returning home in coffins.  The space program offers taxpayers much more.

When former President Kennedy announced his vision for space exploration, many people called it a waste of tax dollars.  Fortunately, Kennedy was a man of vision and pushed ahead.  The space program spurred employment.  More importantly, the space program created tens of thousands of new products and procedures, benefiting American taxpayers and mankind, as a whole.

Technology from the space race has enhanced every aspect of our lives.  Nearly every development for the space industry has reached into our everyday lives.  We've accepted household products, medical equipment and procedures, safety devices for automobiles and aircraft, just to name a few.  Everything from Tang orange drink to Teflon on our cooking utensils is a byproduct of space technology.  Miniaturized electronics has provided us with everything from heart pacemakers and affordable personal computers to cellular telephones.  Tens of thousands of American workers were offered an employment opportunities in developing such products.

During the Kennedy era, we were in a space race with the Soviet Union.  American pride was at stake.  The Bush Administration may see themselves in a similar race with the Chinese.  I'm not as concerned with the motivation as I am with the results.  The space race worked the first time for the American economy and could work again.  

We are so willing to surrender American lives and dollars in war, yet detractors of the space program quickly point to our few space disasters and the NASA budget.  If we were as willing to risk the same number of lives and dollars into space exploration, what could we gain?  I cannot imagine!  I do believer the technology gained would improved life for not only Americans, but also for all mankind.  Likewise, we may discover much about our world, solar system, the universe and the age-old question of our very origin.

The Bush Administration is reviewing the retirement of the shuttle fleet and the creation of a new space vehicle for manned flights.  We need to upgrade our equipment and technology.  The review includes debating the cost and benefits of a permanent moon base.  Again, this could greatly enhance our technology.  There's also a proposal for a mission to Mars.  Sadly, there is also a plan to phase out the International Space Station.

Let's lend our support to this government proposal.  We have an opportunity to put tax dollars to work for the benefit of mankind.  We also have an opportunity to create new jobs for Americans.  Space exploration is a double-edged sword.  The technology can be used for the benefit of mankind, or for the expansion of war.  Let's keep space exploration in the hands of science and technology and out of the hands of the military.

I'll remain optimistic about the Bush proposal until someone tells me about the Pentagon's plans to build a lunar base, or I learn that Halliburton employees are on the lunar landing team.

If you have questions or comments, please email Stan.

Ⓒ Copyright 2003 Stan G. Kain

N.B.:  A reader did contact me with information that Halliburton is attempting to obtain mining rights on the moon.  No surprise there!  

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