Letter from the Coalition for Space Exploration to White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card

Coalition for Space Exploration ^ | November 22, 2005

[anymouse]

November 22, 2005

Mr. Andrew H. Card, Jr. Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. Card,

The Coalition for Space Exploration, consisting of 42 aerospace companies and 11 industry associations, respectfully urges your support for an FY07 NASA budget of not less than $16.962B --- the funding proposed in the President's budget submittal last year for FY07. The Coalition fully supports the Vision for Space Exploration outlined by President Bush in January 2004. We urge you to consider the economic, competitiveness, educational, and national security value of this Presidential priority and we ask that you recommend a funding profile that ensures NASA is given adequate resources to move forward with the Vision for Space Exploration.

When the President announced the Vision, he noted that this bold and necessary initiative would require a sustained commitment spanning decades. Now, barely two years into the journey, fiscal challenges appear to be already placing the Vision at risk. Thanks to the dedication and hard work of NASA's Federal and contractor workers, 70% of whom live and work in the Gulf Coast region, the steps laid out in the President's Vision for Space Exploration have begun. We believe those dedicated workers need your support now more than ever. Space is a critical economic driver in the Gulf. Thousands of aerospace workers, many without homes have continued on the job in the aftermath of the hurricanes that struck the region. NASA-related jobs are a key factor in making the U.S. a globally competitive economic power and also contribute billions to the economy.

While the Coalition understands the tremendous budget pressures created by our military commitments and the impact of recent natural disasters, we believe the economic payback driven by NASA programs warrants the investment. NASA's budget is only 0.7% of the Nation's budget, but NASA programs provide one of the largest paybacks per dollar giving rise to emerging technologies in new materials, structures, computer systems, electronic devices, medical advancements and new generations in weapon technologies. Investment in NASA benefits nearly every industrial segment of the American economy. NASA programs also provide one of the few government programs proven to inspire American children to study math and science, and leads to increases in graduates in engineering and technology programs -- an absolute must if our Nation is to remain a leader in the world economy for generations to come. These combined benefits are key to preserving and extending the engine of American quality of life for today's families and for future generations.

We appreciate the enormous challenges you face developing a fiscally responsible federal budget, and we respectfully request that you consider the negative impacts that near-term funding decisions could have on this long-term Presidential initiative that will yield so much for future generations.

Respectfully,

The Coalition for Space Exploration

Companies:

AAI Corp

AeroAstro

Aerojet

Analytical Graphics

ARES Corp.

ASRC Aerospace

ATK

Ball Aerospace

Bechtel Corp

The Boeing Company

Cisco

Computer Sciences Corp

Constellation Services Int'l

Dynamac

Edison Welding Institute

EDS

Embry Riddle

Futron

General Dynamics

Gulfstream Aerospace

Harris Corporation

Honeywell

IBM

ILC Dover

Jacobs Engineering

Kistler Aerospace Corp

Lockheed Martin Corp

Loral Space & Communications

Northrop Grumman Corp

Orbital Sciences Corp

Pratt Whitney

Raytheon

SAIC

Spacehab, Inc

SpaceX

Swales Aerospace

Teledyne

Brown Engineering

Total Resource Management

Transformational Space LLC

United Space Alliance

United Technologies Corp

Associations:

Aerospace Industries Association

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

American Astronautical Society

California Space Authority

Electronics Industries Alliance

Florida Space Authority

National Institute of Aerospace

National Space Society

Satellite Industry Association

Space Foundation

Space Transportation Association

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

[anymouse]

The hogs are lined up at the trough and they can see that the NASA pork is the new Thanksgiving meat. ;)

[anymouse]

Space ping

[Names Ash Housewares]

Reality check. Where our money goes. NASA is very small.

[JWAVILA]

Look at Human and Health Services. You cut some of that welfare that is misused, there might be some cash there.

[Names Ash Housewares]

"Look at Human and Health Services. You cut some of that welfare that is misused, there might be some cash there."

Isnt it amazing? and it keeps growing. Its bigger then DOD! The defense budget is actually going down a bit.

[KevinDavis]

[KevinDavis]

If we simply got rid of NASA, it won't make a difference at all. The money will be spent on social programs... I say cut the Human and Heatlh Services, the debt would go down..

[Phsstpok]

The hogs are lined up at the trough and they can see that the NASA pork is the new Thanksgiving meat. ;)

You should learn just a touch about the people and companies that you slander before you sound off.

For example, I'd suggest that you find out who the participants in Transformational Space are.

I'm sure there were folks who spoke this way about all of the voyages of exploration that were funded from the public purse,including Columbus'. Similar screeds were laid down against the evil railroads and their awful concessions from government. This last century there was a lot of bitching about government subsidies for air carriers when they were given guaranteed air mail contracts.

Luddits always fail to get it.

[RightWhale]

Please fully fund our enterprises. Oink!

[RightWhale]

voyages of exploration

Mispelled exploitation. Develop the resources.

[anymouse]

NASA is very small.

Size is relative. NASA isn't nearly small enough to do only the job it is Constitutionally responsible to do.

Just like every other government agency, NASA will expand to fill the budget it is given and come back saying that it is not enough.

This is letter is a blatant attempt to shakedown the White House into giving in on their prudent budget goals.

Every political special interest group out there has a sad story of why their favorite pork barrel spending is absolutely critical.

These NASA contractors and their lackey organizations know that their credibility is wearing thin and are getting desperate. I've seen this routine run nearly every year, but this year it isn't working.

[anymouse]

You should learn just a touch about the people and companies that you slander before you sound off.

So should you. I know this cast of characters all too well and I can assure you that it is not slander to call them for what they are - dependents of the Federal government.

For example, I'd suggest that you find out who the participants in Transformational Space are.

I know the principals of t/Space personally and it saddens me to see them soil their reputations by being associated with these other tax leaches. They can do better commercially, but government money is very seductive.

[anymouse]

[KevinDavis]

I don't see Spacedev on the list..

[KevinDavis]

I prefer that private industry do the space travel. Spacedev for example can go to the moon at the fraction of the cost.

[Phsstpok]

Spacedev for example can go to the moon at the fraction of the cost.

That needs some backing up, at least some links to credible sources.

More importantly, you're all ignoring the strategic significance of dominance in space. Holland, Portugal and Spain all became second rate powers when they allowed Britain to dominate the seas. We cannot allow China or, God forbid, Tehran, to dominate the high frontier.

How would you like the Ayatollahs to be able to drop rocks on us at will? What restraint do you think they'd show? And if you think they don't have the resources to make that happen you're very naive. They're currently buying themselves nuclear arsenals, they'll buy themselves a space program if they have the vision to see it as strategic.