State Leaders Meet to Discuss the Future of Space

Sep 28, 2009

COCOA—A huge crowd showed up at Brevard County College in Cocoa Monday morning for a space forum on the future of spaceflight.

Organizers said that In the three years of holding the Florida Space and Technology Forum, Monday’s gathering was the biggest turnout yet and an overflowing crowd came out to explain how they are dependent on the space industry.

The shuttle fleet is scheduled to retire in 2010, which could put thousands of people in Florida out of a job.

Leaders in the space world talked about plans for the future and how they were going to try and keep technology jobs in Florida.

As people spoke, it was evident that many believe that this is by far a much greater issue than just the Space Coast.

Judy Spencer, an AT&T regional director from Orlando went to the forum because she said her company is concerned about losing business.

“Any time you lose jobs, you incur all kinds of other problems, so I think this is a very proactive effort,” said Judy Spencer, an AT&T regional director.

The director of Kennedy Space Center, Bob Cabana, said there are no two ways about it—jobs are getting cut, and now is the time to prepare for the future to best deal with what’s coming.

The audience was filled with lawmakers from around the state, with many pledging to do all they can to support NASA in Washington.

Rep. Ritch Workman recently created the Florida Space Caucus—a group of lawmakers focused on human space flight and promoting legislation that will secure Florida’s ranking as the world’s leader in space exploration.

“We are the leaders in space. It is about our national security, it is about our sense of adventure, and it is about, by God, being an American, and to fund everything under the sun other than space in my opinion is a crime,” Workman said.

Sen. Mike Haridopolos is a co-chair of the forum. He said we need to close the gap between when the shuttle fleet retires and when the Constellation program is set to start.

“I don’t want to have to rely on the Russians, our former adversary, to make sure we have the ability for men to go into space. So, when you think about the economics, yes jobs, no doubt, but also the military component,” Haridopolos said.

The caucus also heard presentations regarding the recent Augustine panel recommendations. That group was set up by President Barack Obama, and has been critical of the current plans to use Ares rockets to send people back to the moon—and maybe even on to Mars.

Please click here to see a video of the event.

Reprinted from http://www.cfnews13.com

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