Dream, Build, Maintain Bipartisanship to Keep Space Exploration Alive
A full-size model of the Crew-1 spacecraft module sits near the launch pad as a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is seen at launch complex 39A in the distance at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Nov. 15, 2020. (Gregg Newton/AFP via Getty Images)
For space exploration to continue to thrive, we must maintain it as a non-partisan sphere.
This past Sunday evening when the NASA / SpaceX collaboration launched their Crew-1 rocket, Dragon Resilience, it was the second time in 10 years that astronauts lifted off in an American rocket launched from American soil.
This wasn’t the only milestone achieved, however. The four-Astronaut crew included an African American, Astronaut Victor Glover. The Crew-1 Resilience team was rounded out by female: Astronaut Shannon Walker, Japanese Astronaut Soichi Noguchi from JAXA and Astronaut and Flight Engineer Mike Hopkins.
This marks the first crew rotation mission of a commercial spacecraft.
This year marks the 20th year that human presence has continuously been in space, namely on the International Space Station, points out Kathryn Lueders (@KathyLueders), NASA’s associate administrator of Human Exploration And Operations Directorate.
She commented during a presentation at this week’s ASCEND conference, saying that "This year we are celebrating 20 years of continuous human occupation on the ISS, where the crew live, conduct scientific research as well as surf the internet, watch movies and talk to their families --- all from space."
Lueders pointed out how crucial space re-supply efforts are, as well, for life and science aboard the ISS, such as the imminent SpaceX DRAGON payload mission.
By the way, the Crew-1 safely arrived on the International Space Station on November 17th. You can watch the live footage on NASAtv.
Delivering remarks from the ASCEND virtual conference on Nov. 17, NASA Administrator James F. "Jim" Bridenstine, said that "the next big step is to go to the moon to stay."
He added that Apollo was great but it ended. Now it’s time to dream and build.
"Space exploration requires dreamers and builders," he stated.
Artemis, in Greek, is the Goddess of the Moon. This is where the NASA Artemis Program took its title for its current program. NASA’s Artemis will land the first woman and the second man on the moon in 2024. "We are celebrating women in space travel," commented Bridenstine.
"We need to constantly keep pushing the boundaries of human exploration, lunar exploration and discovery.
"We can learn so much about the sun and solar system from the Moon. Now we’re going to the Moon to learn how to live sustainably for lengths of time.
"Twenty to 30 years from now we need to have a permanent presence on the Moon and we need to be on Mars."
Bridenstine also underscored the international co-operation NASA has fostered for its Artemis Program under his stewardship. "We created the Artemis Accords because everyone wants to be part of the Artemis Program. But it requires signing on for good governance."
What does he mean by "good governance"?
Well, tangible things like space situational awareness, space traffic management, scientific collaboration and even what to do with space trash. He also added that, "You have to have the apolitical, bipartisan support to pursue these programs sustainably. It’s not the Moon or Mars. It’s both!"
He wrapped up by saying there is a need for a strong political will to keep these programs going long-term. Bridenstine, took the job of NASA administrator in 2018.
He tendered his resignation last week as a matter of formality in the eventuality there is an administration changeover.
Bridenstine’s concluding remarks were robustly positive, "The future is very bright when it comes to space travel and space exploration."
In other words, our future is off-world. Are you coming along? #LaunchAmerica.
See also this, by Vice President Mike Pence.
Paige Donner has contributed to Newsmax since 2018. She's a media expert, commentator, novelist, and serial entrepreneur. She founded the company, Paris Food And Wine in 2013. In 2018, she founded IoTShipping, a supply chain logistics startup that uses the Internet of Things (IoT) for precision traceability of shipped goods. Paige began her journalism career in Paris, France in 1990. Her first job out of university was with Time-Life's rue Fbg. St. Honore offices. Within the next two years, she took freelancing work as a copy editor for the International Herald Tribune, now re-branded the International New York Times, as well as writing assignments for Variety — the film and television trade magazine. Paige has also clerked for the Senate President of the Hawaii State Legislature. A filmmaker, she has written several television pilots as well as directed television commercials and film shorts. She also contributed to American Cinematographer, the Los Angeles Times, Daily Variety, Huffpost, and a film production trade magazine, Below The Line. As of 2010, Paige has again made Paris, France her home. She has also written for the International New York Times. Since 2013, she has been the sole regular local editor/photographer contributor based in Paris, France for USA Today.
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