Adding new voices to the debate over NASA\u2019s future, Senator Rockefeller (D-W.V.), Senator Warner (D-Virginia), and Senator Brownback (R-Kansas) attended today\u2019s Senate Commerce Committee hearing and registered supportive comments concerning the commercial space industry.<\/p>\n
Senator Rockefeller (Committee Chairman) stated, “The American people deserve the most from their space program. NASA\u2019s role cannot stay static. The President has challenged the United States Government to seek greater international collaboration, enable commercial services and develop new exploration technologies leading to human expansion beyond low-Earth orbit. These are good priorities and should help ensure that in tough fiscal times, we build our space future in a measured, relevant, innovative, and sustainable way. This is not easy to do but we can do it \u2013 and we must. NASA cannot continue down the same path.\u201d<\/p>\n
Senator Brownback stated, \u201cI am a strong supporter of NASA, as I mentioned, and of the commercial space industry \u2026 With the impending retirement of the Shuttle, NASA is now assuming a much different role than in our past space effort, and I think there is great opportunity to have a space program that leads the world but will be a space program that is firmly embedded in opportunity for all. By opening up commercial space, it ensures a strong future for the US and the competitive aerospace industry.\u201d<\/p>\n
Senator Warner stated, \u201cI do think there\u2019s interesting opportunities to leverage off of things like the X PRIZE Foundation and the kind of energy that that generated in this sector \u2026 I think it [commercialization] holds some great possibilities and opportunities, particularly possibilities for Wallops as a facility in the commonwealth of Virginia.\u201d (Wallops is a spaceport located in Virginia’s eastern shore.)<\/p>\n
Senators Rockefeller, Brownback, and Warner’s statements join other voices from both political parties including New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D), Newt Gingrich (R), and Norm Mineta (who served under both the Clinton and Bush administrations) in support of commercial spaceflight in Low Earth Orbit, as proposed by President Obama in his new plan for NASA.<\/p>\n
The webcast of the hearing can be viewed at the following URL. Brownback\u2019s comments begin 47:10 into the video, and Warner\u2019s at 120:20. http:\/\/commerce.senate.gov\/public\/index.cfm?p=Hearings&ContentRecord_id=54f5c39e-f62c-487f-b9ed-fd4be38d096f<\/a><\/p>\n Rockefeller’s statement is available online at http:\/\/commerce.senate.gov\/public\/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=c7e0dd7e-f059-4aca-80f4-87cc94e5506b<\/a><\/p>\n About the Commercial Spaceflight Federation Adding new voices to the debate over NASA\u2019s future, Senator Rockefeller (D-W.V.), Senator Warner (D-Virginia), and Senator Brownback (R-Kansas) attended today\u2019s Senate Commerce Committee hearing and registered supportive comments concerning the commercial space industry. Senator Rockefeller (Committee Chairman) stated, “The … Continue reading
\nThe Commercial Spaceflight Federation\u2019s member companies, which include commercial spaceflight developers, operators, spaceports, suppliers, and service providers, are creating thousands of high-tech jobs nationwide, working to preserve American leadership in aerospace through technology innovation, and inspiring young people to pursue careers in science and engineering. For more information please visit http:\/\/www.commercialspaceflight.org<\/a> or contact Executive Director John Gedmark at john@commercialspaceflight.org<\/a> or at 202.349.1121. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"