According to America’s Future in Space: Aligning the Civil Space Program with National Needs, released July 7, 2009, making the space program conform to the national goals will grow in importance. The National Research Council’s Committee on Rationale and Goals of the U.S. Civil Space Program released the report written by Lester Lyles, a retired U.S. Air Force officer. The committee said the federal government should coordinate work among several agencies, use a highly technical work force and invest in new technology and innovation. These actions would lay the foundation for a purposeful, strategic U.S. space program, serving national interests, the report said.
Space Program's Priorities Are Clear
Aligning civil space activities with national objectives has obvious priorities, NRC reported. They are:
- Earth stewardship
- International satellite-observing system for climate change
- Knowledge of universe
- Partnering with international agencies
- Discovery of life on other planets
- Revitalized NASA advanced technology development program
- Development of space technologies used for civil and defense programs
International cooperation on space activities would allow the United States to be a leader on global strategies, support American foreign policy and expand partnerships in science and space exploration, the report said.
NASA Celebrates Anniversary of Apollo 11 Mission
While American officials evaluate the report from NRC, NASA is moving forward on its plans for the 40th anniversary of the moon landing. For July 2009, NASA has planned several events to mark the occasion. NASA is having panel discussions, family events, model rocket contests and lectures. NASA also has partnered with the Newseum, a museum dedicated to history of news, on events scheduled for the actual day of July 20, 2009. A list of events and times is on NASA’s Web site.
In addition, Dauna Coulter, an official working for a NASA contractor, wrote an article looking back on the important event. Coulter lived in Huntsville when NASA tested the Saturn V first-stage rocket at Marshall Space Flight Center. The moon landing would not have happened if it weren’t for that rocket, Coulter said. The event inspired and uplifted people who watched it unfold, Coulter added. Throughout the article, former NASA employees discussed their memories of the moon landing. All of them were mesmerized to their black and white television sets and anxiously anticipated the historic event, Coulter said.
In July 1969, NASA achieved a feat of national importance. Now, 40 years later, the NRC said NASA should again work for national importance and support environmental, economic and strategic goals.
Louise Harris - Louise Harris has worked in the journalism field since she graduated in 1989 from the University of Maryland College of Journalism. She is ...
