Support for the new proposal for NASA's future is widespread, coming from Democrats and Republicans, astronauts, academics, entrepreneurs, and the editorial pages of leading newspapaers. Here's a short sampling of opinions:
Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11 astronaut:
"The truth is, that we have already been to the Moon—some 40 years ago. A near-term focus on lowering the cost of access to space and on developing key, cutting-edge technologies to take us further, faster, is just what our Nation needs. http://buzzaldrin.com/office-of-science-and-technology-policy/
Russell L. Schweickart, Apollo 9 Astronaut
"Our current situation is akin to being on a dead end road. Instead of being on a path toward the goal we all seek, i.e. to regain our leadership position in human space exploration, we must recognize that we are (and have been) on a path to nowhere....The alternative to this is support for the President's proposed plan. It recognizes and eliminates the waste of precious resources in the current program and heads us in a productive direction toward our desired destination." http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=34108
Governor Bill Richardson, New Mexico:
"Our modern economy depends on space -- it is woven into our social fabric, from bank transactions and weather forecasts that depend on satellite signals, to GPS and the latest overhead images by commercial spacecraft that will help us rebuild Haiti. America's commercial space industry can bring private investment to the table and enable government dollars to go much further in meeting our goals." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gov-bill-richardson/commercial-spaceflight-cr_b_473509.html
Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House, and Robert S. Walker, former Chairman of the House Science and Technology Committee:
"In essence, the new spending plan takes NASA back to its roots of advanced technology development, experimentation and exploration." http://washingtontimes.com/news/2010/feb/12/obamas-brave-reboot-for-nasa/
Jim Bell, President of The Planetary Society, professor of astronomy
at Cornell University, and lead imaging scientist for the Mars Exploration
Rovers
"The new plan could also be great news for robotic exploration. Planetary
science, including missions to Mars, Jupiter, and elsewhere, would be funded
at healthy levels. Expanded international science partnerships would be developed,
with NASA leadership. And new robotic missions to the Moon, asteroids, and
Mars would be added as precursors to human exploration, providing the information
needed for astronauts to explore these places safely." http://www.planetary.org/programs/projects/space_advocacy/Bell_SkyTel_June2010.pdf
Scott Hubbard, Stanford, University, former Director of NASA Ames Research Center:
"The budget will make NASA more like
what it should be, the pointy end of the spear, out there doing the
kinds of things that nobody else would do.” http://www.stanforddaily.com/2010/02/12/a-new-nasa/
Neil deGrasse Tyson, Astrophysicist and Director, Hayden Planetarium, American Museum of Natural History, and member of the Board of Directors of The Planetary Society.
John Logsdon, former Director of the Space Policy Institute, George Washington University:
"The proposed new strategy for space can lead to expanded public-private sector partnerships, to investments in new technologies that can produce innovations of broad economic value, and to a revitalized civilian space agency. Most important, it lays the foundation for a sustainable and affordable decades-long effort to explore beyond Earth orbit. These are outcomes that justify accepting significant risks to achieve." http://www.spacenews.com/commentaries/100315-obama-plan-risks-worth-taking.html
Jerry Grey, consultant to the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and Universities Space Research Association, and a former professor of aerospace engineering at Princeton University.
"It is indeed time to set a new course that looks to the future, not the past one that capitalizes on the progress we have made since Americans first walked on the Moon." http://www.spacenews.com/commentaries/100329-laying-foundation-human-space-exploration.html
New York Times editorial:
"Less self-interested colleagues ought to embrace the notion of a truly ambitious space program with clear goals that stir all Americans’ imaginations and challenge this country’s scientists to think far beyond the Moon." http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/opinion/09tue1.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y
The Planetary Society press release:
"The Planetary Society welcomes the overall budget increase and other proposals by the Obama Administration for NASA, and urges Congress to use the Administration’s proposal to finally advance human exploration beyond Earth orbit and beyond the Moon." http://www.planetary.org/about/press/releases/2010/0201_Planetary_Society_Welcomes_New_NASA.html
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