University of Alabama students and faculty react to Bush space plan [Full text] The introduction of Bush's ambitious space plan has evoked varied responses from UA faculty and students.
President Bush's announcement of a new space policy has caused many UA students and faculty to debate whether this plan is too risky.
Bush’s vision consists of completing the International Space Station, developing and testing a new Crew Exploration Vehicle and returning to the moon with robotic exploration.
Bush also hopes that we will one day be able to travel to Mars and worlds beyond.
“Our knowledge can’t be satisfied by even the most vivid picture or the most detailed measurement,” Bush said at his press conference at NASA headquarters.
Bush believes that we can gain a better understanding of the moon by increasing the number of manned missions.
“A human mission would accomplish much more, but at an exponentially higher cost and risk,” Michael Wofsey, a graduate student in the Department of Physics, said.
Engineering student John Armayor agrees that manned missions will help us learn more about the resources on the moon.
Brittany Stroup, an engineering student, is more concerned with the Mars mission and how it will affect us.
“I think Bush’s policy has some great points; however, I do not think we will benefit much from the Mars mission. I think we need to improve our own planet there for fore traveling to others,” Stroup said.
Wofsey believes that a Mars mission may be possible, although he agrees that we would not benefit greatly from it.
Students are starting to ask if this is the right time for expensive space projects. They are questioningwhether there will be enough money to accomplish Bush’s goals.
“There is never enough money in any budget to achieve. The visionary ideas. Sometimes you go for it anyway, as with Kennedy’s moon missions,” Wofsey said.
Some students and faculty have questioned if Bush has organized this policy to advance science or his re-election campaign.
Wofsey believes that he is doing this for both reasons. He also agrees that Bush wants his presidency to leave a mark in the history books.
Allen Stern, a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, believes Bush is doing this to get elected in 2004 by a popular vote.
Although many students are concerned, not all ofthem believe this program will be valuable.
Armayor believes that the space program has provided many significant technologies for our everyday aniy significant [photosuse, and, by continuing research, that the program would further our advancements.
Biology student Stefan Mancuso agrees with Armayor.
“When Kennedy said his goal was to land a man on the moon and bring him back safely, many people thought this idea was unattainable. He accomplished his goal, and I believe that with the people’s support Bush can do the same,” Mancuso said.
“The ISS will be completed, the Space Shuttle will be retired, and a new vehicle is already being developed. These will happen regardless of what Bush does, because they were started before he took office, Wofsey said.
In his press conference Bush stated, “We do not know where this journey will end.” The numerous reactions of UA students and faculty reverberate that point: we don’t know where this journey will end. [End]
This story was written by Merrick Wiedrich, meric22@hotmail.com and edited by Katie French, frenc002@bama.ua.edu