Industry Leaders Promote Space Agenda

A summit of elected officials and space industry leaders last year helped secure more than $15 million in state funding for space priorities.

Today in Cocoa, roughly 100 space and government representatives gathered to celebrate that success during a year of severe budget cuts, and to rally for more support in what is expected to be another difficult budget next year.

"Last year, this event played a key role in shaping legislation," said George Hauer, vice president and director of Kennedy Space Center operations for Wyle Laboratories. "With the budgetary problems of the state, it's even more important."

Legislative goals were not discussed in detail.

But participants agreed on the need to work together to help the space center manage the shuttle fleet's retirement in 2010, and a possible five-year gap in manned spaceflight before the next-generation vehicle is ready.

NASA's most recent estimate is that 3,000 to 4,000 space center jobs will be lost during the transition.

Local economic development officials have estimated an impact to Brevard County's economy of more than $1 billion.

Monday's forum, attended by Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp and KSC Director Bill Parsons, encouraged state leaders to continue funding for workforce training programs and infrastructure improvements to support commercial launches.

More emphasis was placed on the need to improve science and math education and to ensure Florida universities are better positioned to win NASA research grants.

Several speakers noted the success of China's first spacewalk recently, and said the United States must produce more engineers to maintain leadership in space.

"Our talent pool is literally running dry," said Gwendolyn Anello, vice president of education and research for Zero Gravity Corp. "If we don't act now to get kids interested in science, we're cooked."

State Sen. Mike Haridopolos, the chairman of Brevard's legislative delegation, said he was optimistic progress could be made despite the state's budget woes.

"If we don't act, the budget woes will get worse," Haridopolos, R-Indialantic, said after the three-hour forum. "As long as everyone's on the same page, things can get done in Tallahassee."

Forum moderator John Thrasher, a former House speaker and the county's lobbyist in Tallahassee, said meetings would continue among group participants to flesh out a detailed legislative agenda. He also called attention to Space Day in Tallahassee on March 4.