Florida Today: The Journey Must Go On: Despite Costs, U.S. Should Continue Human Space Exploration
Op-Ed
Florida Today: The Journey Must Go On: Despite Costs, U.S. Should Continue Human Space Exploration
The United States was born because human beings are driven to explore the world around them.
Christopher Columbus' expedition discovered the Americas.
President Jefferson dispatched Lewis and Clark on a dangerous expedition to search for a northwest passage to the Pacific.
And 40 years ago this July, an American named Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on another celestial body.
Each of these grand voyages came at great public expense and grave risk.
But nations undertook them.
In his 1962 speech at Rice University, President Kennedy reaffirmed America's commitment to human exploration and discovery. He spoke eloquently of our need to solve the mysteries of the universe, while he also defended the expense of the new space program.
"The exploration of space will go ahead," Kennedy said, "whether we join in it or not; and, it is one of the great adventures of all time; and, no nation which expects to be the leader of other nations can expect to stay behind in this race for space."
Let's not forget those words.
Back then, we had to decide whether to fall behind Russia. Today, we must decide whether to relinquish leadership not just to Russia, but also to China, which put a probe on the moon in March and expects to launch a rover by 2012.
Besides leadership, President Kennedy knew that fulfilling the human desire to venture out in new directions would bring us amazing new advancements and change for the better here on Earth.
Indeed, our space voyages have given us the scientific, technological, medical and communications advancements Kennedy envisioned. To name just a few of the more mundane: shock-absorbing athletic shoes; fire-resistant material; weather-forecasting equipment; and scratch-resistant lenses.
Our modern-day expeditions also have given us iconic heroes: men and women who put their lives on the line for the benefit of all of us.
I'm sure President Obama understands all this. He knows why we, as a people, must continue to explore our universe; why it is worth the cost.
I believe that's why the president has committed to finishing all nine space shuttle missions, regardless of how long it takes; and, to make full use of the International Space Station.
This is a step in the right direction.
But down the road, the administration's proposed budget does not match what candidate Obama said about the future of our space program when he visited Florida during his campaign last year.
Still, the White House assures me his budget numbers are subject to change, pending a review the president has ordered of NASA a review that I've insisted must include jobs in Central Florida.
Given the realities of these hard economic times, Brevard County, our state and nation cannot afford to lose several thousand more jobs.
The NASA review, which should be finished in a few months, is an opportunity to nail down support for human spaceflight.
We cannot deny who and what we are. We always have been, and always will be, explorers and discoverers. Our great nation would not exist if it weren't so.
Nelson is a Democrat and Florida's senior U.S. senator.
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