The congresswoman whose district includes NASA's Kennedy Space Center today urged the the U.S. House budget committee to add $1.2 billion in fiscal year 2011 to keep the nation's shuttle fleet flying in support of President Obama's plan to extend International Space Station operations through 2020.Here is the news release issued by the office of U.S Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach and a member of the House space and science subcommittee:
Kosmas Presses Budget Committee to Continue Shuttle Funding
Testifies that Shuttle May Be Needed to Fully Support Space Station Extension
(Washington, DC) – Today, Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas (FL-24) testified before the House Budget Committee about the President’s proposed NASA budget and called for an additional $1.2 billion over the president’s request for FY 2011 to continue flying the Space Shuttle. Kosmas expressed to committee members the importance of extending the life of the International Space Station (ISS) through 2020, but warned that continued Shuttle operations might be needed to fully service and support the ISS extension.
“There is only one existing vehicle with the capability to deliver certain pieces of hardware that will enable a longer lifespan of the ISS, maintain continued U.S. independent access to space, and ensure the station's research mission is maximized to fullest extent possible – and that is the Space Shuttle,” Congresswoman Kosmas said to the committee. “I believe that as we debate long-term future of our human space program, it is prudent to take steps to ensure the Space Shuttles can continue to operate in order to fully support and service the ISS.”
Kosmas also reiterated her view that the President’s proposal for NASA lacks a clear plan and puts at risk America’s international leadership in human space exploration.
“The President’s proposal to cancel the Constellation program and proceed with the retirement of the Shuttle fleet, with no clear plans or goals for exploration, will have far-reaching implications,” said Kosmas. “Tens of thousands of high-paying, highly-skilled jobs are on the line across the country at small, medium, and large suppliers who support both the Shuttle and Constellation programs. Our nation’s economic prosperity and national security will also be at stake if we do not pursue technological innovation and protect our unique capabilities. And we risk failing to inspire future generations of scientists and engineers – for NASA’s missions have inspired untold numbers of Americans to pursue STEM fields.”
Congresswoman Kosmas’ testimony to the Budget Committee can be found below:
Chairman Spratt, Ranking Member Ryan and Members of the Committee – thank you for allowing me the opportunity to address you regarding an issue of great importance not only to my district, but to the nation as a whole – the transition of our human space flight program from the space shuttle program based in low-Earth orbit to a next generation transportation and exploration program.
The President’s proposal to cancel the Constellation program and proceed with the retirement of the shuttle fleet, with no clear plans or goals for exploration, will have far-reaching implications -- it will threaten our leadership in space, leave us without the ability to independently launch Americans or access the International Space Station for an unknown amount of time, and devastate a unique, world-class workforce and industrial base that will be difficult to reassemble.
The impacts of this proposal would be felt by the entire nation. Tens of thousands of high-paying, highly-skilled jobs are on the line across the country at small, medium, and large suppliers who support both the Shuttle and Constellation programs. Our nation’s economic prosperity and national security will also be at stake if we do not pursue technological innovation and protect our unique capabilities. And we risk failing to inspire future generations of scientists and engineers – for NASA’s missions have inspired untold numbers of Americans to pursue STEM fields.
Congress must signal to the Administration – as well as to industry, our international partners, and future generations of rocket scientists and explorers – that we will not cede our leadership in space – or here on Earth. We must make the commitment to funding a robust human space flight program if we want to ensure our nation’s future as the leader in technology and innovation.
While there is much debate over the future direction of our space program, there is one area of consensus among Members, the President, and domestic and international scientific communities – and that is the need to extend the life of the International Space Station (ISS) through at least 2020. Nearly complete after a decade of construction, the ISS now holds great promise as a National Laboratory that will benefit all Americans and I urge you to budget the funds needed to extend its operation.
However, there is only one existing vehicle with the capability to deliver certain pieces of hardware that will enable a longer lifespan of the ISS, maintain continued U.S. independent access to space, and ensure the station's research mission is maximized to fullest extent possible – and that is the space shuttle.
I am currently drafting legislation with colleagues in both houses that would spread out the four remaining shuttle missions and potentially add a certain number of additional flights following a review by NASA of hardware that will be essential to maintaining the station. I believe that as we debate long-term future of our human space program, it is prudent to take steps to ensure the Space Shuttles can continue to operate in order to fully support and service the ISS. This action will also help to preserve the highly-skilled workforce and operational expertise that will be needed for the next generation program.
I urge you to include in the FY11 budget resolution $1.2 billion in additional funds for the space shuttle program above the President’s request, to possibly spread out the remaining manifest and add missions, such as STS-135, as well as $100 million in additional funds for the International Space Station in order to provide for the procurement of additional hardware.
Our human space program is a national treasure. It has served as a source of inspiration for young scientists and engineers, it has accelerated the development of technologies that improve lives here on Earth, and it has greatly contributed to our nation’s economic and national security. We should take steps to protect our strategic capabilities – including the shuttle program and its highly-skilled workers - while Congress debates the President’s budget proposal and the future of our human space flight program.
12 comments:
You should make the most of what R&D and US dollers has done. Both the ISS and the Shuttle work very well. They are both paid for and no other major investments are required. The Shuttle team does a great job. You should make the most of it until a new rocket is developed. Maybe Congress can give more then just 0.5% of our fed taxes to fund a decent space program instead of giving up our space station to the Russians? The RUSSIANS, what do you not understand? We have leadership in space..DON'T LOSE IT!!!
From a Democrat who voted for Kosmas - she is what we progressive Democrats call a "Spineless Democrat Sell-Out"
She is for Glorified Social Welfare Programs like the Space Program but against the Public Option Health Care Program.
I will never vote for her again unless she changes her tune on Health Care. Until then she is no different than a Republican.
The real test of her fight for the space center will come on the day of the vote on his budget.
She votes for this health care nonsense and they won't extend her ! Yeah, let's not vote for the Space Program because it's a "glorified social welfare program"...and the government mandated healthcare plan isn't ? You dolt. It is the worst thing that can happen to our system. How many more examples of government incompetence do you need before you wise up ?
Neither Kosmas or Posey are dealing with the reality that the Shuttle was cancelled more than six years ago by the Bush Administration. Many of the contractors have gone out of business.
A February 24 Florida Today article at:
www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20102240345
... found that restarting the Shuttle program would lead to lengthy delays and may be cost-prohibitive as it would siphon money from other NASA programs.
They also ignore the findings of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) in 2003 that the Shuttle design has an inherent design flaw -- the crew vehicle on the side, increasing the risk of exposing the vehicle to flame and debris -- that has led to the death of 14 astronauts. That's one big reason why Bush cancelled Shuttle in 2004.
The Bush Administration signed the contract in 2007 to use the Soyuz spacecraft to get to ISS until a replacement vehicle is ready. For those freaked out by astronauts hitching a ride on Soyuz, we've been flying astronauts on Soyuz since 1995. The Soyuz series spacecraft have never had a fatal accident since it began flying in 1967.
We are where we are for a reason. Kosmas and Posey are engaging in revisionist history to pander for votes.
I'm writing more about this on my blog at spaceksc.blogspot.com.
Government Programs:
1. Space Program - benefits very few and makes Defense Contractors Richer
2. Public Option Health Care - Benefits millions of Americans who aren't rich as Defense Contractors.
No Health Care then No Space Program
That was a good post, Agonman. I agree, no Health care, No Space program. Let the party of No deal with that. Maybe they can take their Brither buddy, Bill Posey with his No boys, the Tea Bagers and ask their daddy Rush, how to make Tea out of that.
The anonymous commenter at 2:26 is clearly incapable of using his brain. The three programs he names are all very different.
Social welfare programs take away people's initiative, and make it easy for recipients to do nothing more than sit at home collecting unemployment checks.
The public option health care program creates a huge government bureaucracy that introduces inefficiencies and grows the national debt while increasing costs for doctors and patients.
The space program increases our understanding of the universe, inspires children to pursue degrees in science and technology, enhances America's status as a leader in the world, and advances the human spirit.
I know where I want my tax dollars going.
Wow, it is REALLY late to suddenly decide to extend the Shuttle. As big a supporter as I am, it would be very expensive to start turning on contracts again, etc. I hate to say it, but the most we could do is add a flight or two.
said Kosmas. “Tens of thousands of high-paying, highly-skilled jobs are on the line across the country at small, medium, and large suppliers who support both the Shuttle and Constellation programs. Our nation’s economic prosperity and national security will also be at stake if we do not pursue technological innovation and protect our unique capabilities. And we risk failing to inspire future generations of scientists and engineers – for NASA’s missions have inspired untold numbers of Americans to pursue STEM fields.” and the MAJORITY OF THE TAXPAYERS IN THE US SUPPORT YOUR STATEMENT!
What Congress wants to do supports a private agenda of a large MINORITY! US taxpayers want our families SAFE! and want our children to prepare for the future generations of scientists and engineers...not to watch over their IPODS when China and Russia do what the US has been doing! WE ARE THE MAJORITY OF THE TAXPAYERS and we do want the Space programs funded to maintain superiority in Space by enhanced technology. The taxpayers decide, not one person, one senate or one congress!
No one but no one wants the Space program cancelled! Thank you for this article!
She is for Glorified Social Welfare Programs like the Space Program but against the Public Option Health Care Program.
Let's see... Space Program... Pay someone for a service/job
Health Care give someone a handout for nothing in return...
Does that sound american?
Coming from a Democrat who voted for Kosmas, I cannot wait until we vote this clown out
I fail to understand what all the shock is about. It has been known for years that the shuttle would end this year. Why should we pay for a program that has outlived it's life and to keep doing the same thing over and over? We also have been to the moon over 35 years ago, why go now.
A lot of the money doled out went to people that should be retired and slackers that should never have had jobs in the first place. If Nasa had watched the $$$ more closely maybe they could have done a lot more than they have.
It is not a welfare program and it is not a jobs program so get over it. It sounds like all these people crying and complaining think we should just pour money into the shuttle to keep them employed rather we are gaining anything as far as space is concerned.
The post office is like Nasa, they knew for years what was ahead with all the new technology and they did nothing about it, now they are crying because they have to have cut backs.
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