Hearing Summary - The Case for Space: Examining the Value
October 21, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a subcommittee hearing today on The Case for Space: Examining the Value.
Witness List:
Dr. Stephen I. Katz, Director, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health
Dr. Scott Pace, Director, Space Policy Institute, Elliott School of International Affairs, The George Washington University
Dr. Lennard A. Fisk, Vice Chair, Committee on the Rationale and Goals of the U.S. Civil Space Program, Space Studies Board, National Research Council, and Thomas M. Donahue Distinguished University Professor of Space Science at the University of Michigan
Dr. Jeanne L. Becker, Associate Director, National Space Biomedical Research Institute
Ms. Helen Greiner, CEO, The Droid Works
Key Quotations from Today’s Hearing:
“NASA should know that, until significant improvements are made, I will continue to be critical of its program management and accounting. However, I also believe in giving credit where credit is due. Space exploration, in general, and NASA, in particular, have made valuable contributions to science, technology, and our economic competitiveness. Still, the challenge remains; we must align this considerable investment with our national priorities, and communicate its importance to the American public.”
Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV
“For a half-century now the space program has grown America’s economy, while bringing amazing new advancements that made us a global leader in science and technology. And there’s not a day that goes by that our lives aren’t touched in some way by spinoffs from the space program, like, car navigation systems. All this is why I hope the president will commit the money needed to keep America a leader in space exploration.”
Senator Bill Nelson, Chairman, U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Science and Space
“The NIH is proud to continue its partnership with NASA to make additional discoveries through research activities. The NIH also looks forward to the conceptual and technological breakthroughs that are likely to emerge from the unique environment of the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory, and expects some of these advances will speed progress toward important medical interventions.”
Dr. Stephen I. Katz, Director, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health
“The United States is facing a generational transition away from the period represented by the Space Shuttle that is just as profound as the transition from Apollo was. We are facing a transition not just of hardware and contracts, but also of leadership and values. The transition is upon us at home and abroad, just as we see that others are not delaying their entries into space. What will this nation do?”
Dr. Scott Pace, Director, Space Policy Institute, Elliott School of International Affairs, The George Washington University
“Indeed, we can argue that the globalized world in which we live, where manufacturing is worldwide and economies are thoroughly intertwined, was able to develop because of space. The knowledge that we have about other societies and our ability to communicate instantaneously, transmitted through satellites, have given us a level of comfort to invest throughout the world. And because of this we live in a safer world, where now many nations have a vested interest in each other’s success.”
Dr. Lennard A. Fisk, Vice Chair, Committee on the Rationale and Goals of the U.S. Civil Space Program, Space Studies Board, National Research Council, and Thomas M. Donahue Distinguished University Professor of Space Science at the University of Michigan
“At this critical time when national resources are hard fought, I sincerely believe that investments made in the International Space Station will yield tremendous benefits for new discovery to enhance health on earth. Vital to these successes are the collaborations and efforts of academia, industry and government, working together with your strong support.”
Dr. Jeanne L. Becker, Associate Director, National Space Biomedical Research Institute
“Because of the small investments made by NASA, the U.S. is currently leading the world in robot products. More robots from autonomous vacuums to floor washers to warehouse robots to military robots have been designed and sold by U.S. companies than any other country. The entrepreneurial companies, like iRobot Corporation, that make this happen are creating jobs and insuring America’s leadership in the global innovation economy. NASA funding is a national competitiveness issue.”
Ms. Helen Greiner, CEO, The Droid Works
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