Over the last six months, NASA has cut over half of its space science programs and "de-emphasized" many others. This has led to thousands of layoffs around the country, and a concensus that the "Vision For Space Exploration" was going to end up gutting the innovative and long term research being performed by our nations scientists. Two days ago, NASA Administrator Mike Griffin decided to speak to the concerns of America's science community:
Dr. Mike Griffin - NASA Administrator
I'm here today to talk about what science at NASA means to U.S. leadership in space exploration, and in the world at large. I will also address specific components of our Science Mission Directorate plans, and discuss the opportunities in science that we expect to result from both our new exploration plan and our ongoing decadal research plans.
To begin, I think that some perspective on the role of science in our national life might be in order. We are all here in San Francisco this evening because we believe that what we do is important, not only to our specific disciplines, but also to society at large. It is our good fortune to live in a society that invests in and greatly values scientific achievement. Indeed, most of us have grown up in a world in which we take it for granted that the United States government will invest significant taxpayers' resources in scientific research. But this has not always been the case; prior to World War II, government investment in scientific research was minuscule.
But the contributions of science and technology to the war effort prompted President Roosevelt to request a report from Dr. Vannevar Bush, the Director of the Office of Scientific Research, on how scientific expertise could be used in the post-war world. Bush's report, Science: The Endless Frontier, provided the framework for much of the federal backing of scientific research of which many of us have been or currently are the beneficiaries. In his report, Bush wrote, "It is in keeping also with basic U.S. policy that the government should foster the opening of new frontiers and this is the modern way to do it." I think Dr. Bush got it exactly right.
America's space program is a prime example of a successful national investment in opening new frontiers that became possible precisely because our leaders thought about scientific advancement in this new context. Today we conduct bold and rewarding, but costly, scientific activities in space today because our leaders two generations ago viewed American preeminence in all aspects of space exploration as essential to maintaining world leadership. It was in this same spirit that, nearly two years ago, President Bush announced the Vision for Space Exploration, noting its implementation would advance America's economic, scientific and security interests.
Article comments
1 - Aaman
The Space Race has contributed very little to human progress, as compared to the Computer Age, or the Industrial Age.
The potential ROI may be huge, but the actual ROI is negative.
Convert NASA into a science research organization and make it an international coordinator of global joint space research, and don't have everyone re-inventing the global space wheel
2 - Bennett
Human progress?
What, like Hubble? Or telecommunications satellites? Or the technology that has spun off into medical research and the development of revolutionary diagnostic equipment?
Or are you using "Space Race" as a euphemism for Manned Space Flight?
Because either way, I think you are wrong, Aaman.
Are you denying the transfer of technology that played a big part in what you call the Computer Age? Are you missing the point that manned space flight is the only sure thing that can guarantee the continuation of the Human Age?
Is the continuation of our species "progress"?
3 - Aaman
Not really, we haven't done such a good job in stewardship of this planet, let's not fuck up any more.
Give Earth Back to the Dolphins!
4 - Bennett
Granted, but our kids could be better at it than the current gang. That's what we strive for, eh?
Plus, the Dolphins haven't gotten it together for migrating off-planet yet.
5 - Eric Bennett
Perhaps the cockroaches are more suited for planetary domination. I guess time will tell, but I agree that our kid's and their wiser stewardship would be a more rewarding prophecy seen fulfilled.
6 - JR
Aaman: Convert NASA into a science research organization and make it an international coordinator of global joint space research, and don't have everyone re-inventing the global space wheel
Some international coordination is a good idea, just to direct traffic and to manage environmental issues (by which I mean debris in orbit, among other things). But I like the idea of people re-inventing the wheel because every once in a while someone comes up with a better wheel; or at least one better adapted to a specific use.
Disorganization breeds diversity; and a diverse approach is a robust approach.
And since when do humans stop at fucking up just one thing? Come on, we're more ambitious than that!