Servicing complete on Hubble Telescope - observatory equipped for final round of discoveries

HOUSTON - The Coalition for Space Exploration, the leading collaboration of space industry businesses and advocacy groups, announced today the release of a statement by board member Steve Hawley, a former astronaut on five space shuttle missions, two involving the deployment and servicing of the Hubble Space Telescope.

In recent editorials to newspapers, Hawley expressed his enthusiasm regarding the culmination of NASA's final refurbishing mission to the Hubble telescope, noting all that this observatory has told us about the history and construct of the cosmos. He remarked, "The Hubble Space Telescope has revolutionized our understanding of the universe with images unprecedented in scientific value. Part of Hubble's fascinating story captures the challenges and rewards of maintaining and improving the observatory."

Hawley cited several captivating discoveries made possible by this orbiting spacecraft, saying, "Among its most significant accomplishments, Hubble helped astronomers establish the universe's age at 13.7 billion years and provided evidence for the existence of mysterious 'dark energy,' which is causing the expansion of our universe to accelerate."

Hawley also stated, "One of the more famous Hubble images is a 10-day exposure of what we thought was an empty region of sky near the Big Dipper. This image, known as the 'Hubble Deep Field,' revealed an amazing number of galaxies, some having formed when the universe was very young. All of these accomplishments were enabled by the servicing missions and demonstrate the tremendously productive relationship between humans and machines conducting science in space."

Exemplifying the importance of utilizing both state-of-the-art equipment and mankind's resourcefulness, Hawley concluded, "When you witness the awe-inspiring Hubble repair mission with astronauts so delicately and skillfully working to extend Hubble's life one last time, remember what this achievement represents - the unique synergy of human ingenuity and technological prowess that will serve the space program into the future."

For Hawley's complete comments, visit www.spacecoalition.com/Published_Op-eds.cfm.

About the Coalition for Space Exploration
The Coalition for Space Exploration is a group of space industry businesses and advocacy groups that collaborate to educate and inform the public and Congress on the value and benefits of space exploration and to help ensure the United States remains a leader in space, science and technology - key factors that benefit every American, strengthen our nation's economy and maintain our national security.

HOUSTON - "The Coalition for Space Exploration is pleased that President Obama has named retired Gen. Charles Bolden as NASA administrator and Lori Garver as deputy administrator. Bolden is a strong and experienced leader who will balance the priorities of the agency.

"America's space program is at a critical crossroad. NASA needs a clearly defined plan and unwavering support from the president and Congress to achieve our nation's space exploration objectives. We look forward to working with the new NASA administrator and his leadership team as we address the rapidly approaching human spaceflight gap following retirement of the Space Shuttle, the next generation Constellation program and full utilization of the International Space Station."

- Dean Acosta, Chairman-Public Affairs Team
Coalition for Space Exploration

About the Coalition for Space Exploration
The Coalition for Space Exploration is a group of space industry businesses and advocacy groups that collaborate to educate and inform the public and Congress on the value and benefits of space exploration and to help ensure the United States remains a leader in space, science and technology - key factors that benefit every American, strengthen our nation's economy and maintain our national security.

HOUSTON - "The Coalition for Space Exploration is encouraged by the president's $18.7 billion budget for NASA in fiscal year 2010. Yet, the uncertainty of NASA's future direction, specifically in exploration, leaves many unanswered questions. Fundamental concerns linger regarding our ability to remain a leader as a space-faring nation and the resulting issues surrounding workforce transition from the space shuttle program. While we are pleased to see a balanced budget for science and exploration, we must not lose our progress in achieving a seamless transition from current to future space vehicle programs. A focus on space exploration is vital for maintaining tens of thousands of high-tech jobs that drive our nation's economic engine and maintain our technical edge. We urge the administration to take additional key steps that maintain our global leadership position in space exploration. First, name a NASA administrator to execute a robust space exploration agenda. Second, announce a definitive plan for how we intend to solve the nation's multi-year inability to launch humans into space following space shuttle retirement.

We must remember that space, science and technology are essential components of our nation's economy."

Dean Acosta, Chairman - Public Affairs Team
Coalition for Space Exploration

About the Coalition for Space Exploration
The Coalition for Space Exploration is a group of space industry businesses and advocacy groups that collaborate to educate and inform the public and Congress on the value and benefits of space exploration and to help ensure the United States remains a leader in space, science and technology -key factors that benefit every American, strengthen our nation's economy and maintain our national security.

HOUSTON - The Coalition for Space Exploration, the leading collaboration of space industry businesses and advocacy groups, announced today the release of a statement by board member Dr. Tom Jones, a veteran astronaut who flew four space shuttle missions to conduct Earth and space science, and helped deliver the U.S. Destiny laboratory to the International Space Station.

In recent editorials to newspapers, Jones expressed his heightened appreciation of Earth's beauty and the importance of protecting the planet given his time spent in space. "Some of NASA's greatest discoveries occur when it focuses technology homeward. NASA's spacecraft provide hard data that guide citizens and policy makers toward informed decisions about the environment."

Jones cited several recent examples of NASA technology hard at work, "This month, sensors on board NASA's Aqua satellite gave firefighters a top-down view of wildfires burning in Oklahoma and Texas. Just last month, the EO-1 satellite provided disaster relief planners with an overhead view of the bulging Red River as flood waters rose in North Dakota and Minnesota. Also in March, the Landsat 5 satellite, a joint effort between NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey, enabled scientists to track volcanic plumes and ash from repeated eruptions of Alaska's Mt. Redoubt."

Referencing NASA's work to protect Earth's ozone layer as a great example of long-term success, Jones noted, "NASA's Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer provided space-based images of the ozone hole that sparked concern worldwide and prompted the international treaty known as the Montreal Protocol. Since 1987, more than a hundred countries have agreed to limit chemicals known to deplete the ozone layer, which shields us from the sun's dangerous ultraviolet radiation. The ozone's full recovery is still decades away, but measurements from NASA's Aura satellite show levels of the harmful compounds are starting to decline."

Jones concluded, "Improving our understanding of the environment is another way that investing in space exploration improves our lives on Earth. From the unrivaled vantage point of space, I saw Earth as a haven, our unique oasis in a harsh universe. Earth Day reminds us how our exploration of that universe will help us monitor and protect that most precious world -- our home planet."
For more information on NASA's Earth observation work and Jones' complete comments, visit www.spacecoalition.com/earth_day.cfm.

HOUSTON--On Wednesday, President Obama signed an omnibus appropriations bill that provides essential resources for many of our nation's important projects including much needed funding for NASA and its programs. This demonstrates that our nation's leaders recognize the importance of space exploration, NASA's role in providing highly skilled jobs in key areas around the country and the valuable impact America's space program has on our nation's future.

Coalition for Space Exploration statement on the 2010 NASA budget overview

HOUSTON - "Today's vote of confidence for NASA by the President in his 2010 budget overview and the recent bipartisan support from Congress is certainly a direction many of us in the aerospace industry are pleased to see. We look forward to the specific budget details in April in hopes that it will address some of the fiscal challenges that NASA faces in future years."

Dean Acosta, Chairman-Public Affairs Team
Coalition for Space Exploration

Nearly 9 out of 10 Americans see value in America's space program
New survey proves space exploration still important to U.S. citizens

HOUSTON - Despite the tough economic climate in the U.S., almost 90 percent of Americans see value in the U.S. space program. This finding is part of the results of a survey commissioned by the Coalition for Space Exploration, proving that space is still very important to the American people.

"We are pleased to see that the public clearly backs a well-rounded U.S. space exploration program. When combined with President Obama's space policy that calls for the establishment of a robust and balanced civilian space program, it is vital that Washington leaders allow for and support appropriate funding for NASA," said Dean Acosta, chairman of the Coalition's Public Affairs Team.
The survey, which took place in mid-January, measured the public's perceived value of the U.S. space program, and then re-measured it after presenting respondents with basic facts regarding the program's national economic impact and technological spin-offs.

Before the basic facts were presented, respondents centered their value of the U.S. space program in three areas:

• A source of technological innovation and advancement (77 percent)
• Consumer product development based on technology used for space exploration (73 percent)
• Inspiring students to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and math (69 percent)

However, upon learning basic facts about NASA and America's space program, the percentage of support jumped from 88 to 96 percent.

"These latest survey results demonstrate that the more familiar Americans are with the U.S. space program, the more likely they are to place a higher value on it," added Acosta. "We are in agreement with the new administration whose space policy states that a revitalized NASA can help America contribute to our country's economic growth and maintain its edge in innovation."
Some of the economic impact information shared with the survey respondents included:

• The aerospace industry employs 500,000 people across the nation.
• Aerospace industry sales in 2008 increased over the previous year to more than 204 billion and account for nearly 2 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product.
• In 2007, the U.S. aerospace industry had a foreign trade surplus of 61 billion - the largest trade surplus of any manufacturing sector.

After learning these facts, nearly 80 percent of the survey pool placed more value on the U.S. space program.
When presented with a list of some of the consumer product spin-offs developed from technology used for space exploration - including GPS systems, direct-to-home TV, satellite radio, airbags, radial tires, smoke detectors and key healthcare surgical devices - 88 percent of respondents placed more value on the U.S. space program. In fact, 93 percent said they use such spin-off technologies, with 72 percent of those using them "all the time."
After learning that America's role as the world's space leader is being challenged by other nations, 87 percent of respondents said the U.S. should strive to maintain its leadership position. And, of that percentage, a solid majority (58 percent) thinks America "definitely should" strive to remain as the world's leader in exploring space.

The study also revealed, however, that Americans still lack a true understanding of the amount of the federal budget allotted to NASA. When asked to estimate NASA's budget, 56 percent overestimated the figure. When told NASA currently receives less than 1 percent of the federal budget, 63 percent were "surprised" to learn the funding was that low.

The survey is part of the Coalition's ongoing effort to better understand the extent of public support and views toward America's space program. Over the years, the Coalition has conducted research using a variety of methods, including polls and focus groups.

"The Coalition continually seeks new and innovative ways to conduct its research," said Joan Underwood, deputy chairwoman of the Coalition's Public Affairs Team. "We're excited that the findings remain consistent over time, validating that Americans maintain a strong sense of value in their space program."

The complete survey report and data are available online at http://www.spacecoalition.com/88percent.cfm.

A group of about 20 centrist senators from both parties working on an alternative economic stimulus package remained far apart on a deal as of mid-afternoon Wednesday.

The lack of an agreement between the two leaders of the talks, Sens. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), has thrown the final outcome of the stimulus plan into doubt. Both want to reduce the package's cost, but Collins wants to impose deeper cuts.

From the Orlando Sentinel

WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida is fighting his alter ego, U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, over the midwestern lawmaker's efforts to strip 1.5 billion in NASA funding from a massive economic recovery plan being pushed by congressional Democrats.

The Nebraska Nelson, a Democrat, is in talks to cut 90 billion or from the 900 billion bill, including a big boost for NASA likely aimed at helping the space agency build its new moon rocket, which is set for a first mission in 2015 -- five years after NASA plans to retire the space shuttle.

"We soon will face a gap of five or more years during which we will lack a U.S. vehicle capable of taking our astronauts to and fronm the International Space Station," wrote the Florida Nelson, a Democrat, in a letter to Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawaii, who chairs the powerful appropriations committee.

"As a result, we will have no choice but to pay Russia for seats on their spacecraft - even as we lay off thousands of U.S. aerospace workers across the country."

NASA already has had trouble getting support from Congress in the stimulus plan. The U.S. House rejected an attempt by U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach, to insert an extra 2 billion for the agency, opting instead to keep NASA's increase to 600 million.

A Senate vote on the package is expected by the end of the week, possibly tonight.

HOUSTON - The Coalition for Space Exploration, the leading collaboration of space industry businesses and advocacy groups, announced today the release of a statement by James Lovell, who served as part of the crew of Apollo 8 - the first human voyage to a celestial body. Apollo 8's successful mission in December 1968 to orbit the Moon paved the way for Apollo 11 to realize U.S. President John F. Kennedy's goal of landing a man on the Moon before the close of the 1960s.

In a recent editorial, Lovell points out that "a recent analysis of the costs of government bailouts due to the housing crisis, the credit crisis and other economic woes tallies up to 8.5 trillion - more than the cost of all U.S. wars, the Louisiana Purchase, the New Deal, the Marshall Plan and NASA space program spending - all combined and adjusted for today's dollars.

"Why the necessity to bail out these mismanaged, short-sighted industries that are consumer based when a federal agency with strong management and awe-inspiring deliverables finds itself strapped for cash? Today's NASA is at a crossroads - it is suffering under economic stress, desperate for the necessary funding to continue its magnificent work. It too faces an uncertain funding future tied to 400,000 to 500,000 federal and civil contractor jobs."

Lovell went on to comment, "NASA can be counted on to confront key issues here on Earth, from global climate change to energy independence to aeronautics research. As has been the case for over 50 years, there's a payback to the public for investing in your space program."

Lovell concluded, "It is imperative that NASA receive sufficient funds from the national budget to move on to the next phase of space exploration under the Constellation program. Provided that President-elect Obama holds true on his promise of 2 billion in additional funding for the program, NASA will be able to continue its great work and ensure that hundreds of thousands keep their jobs, allowing the work and dollars for the space program to remain within the U.S. economy. This is not a bailout for the agency, but necessary financing to accomplish all that NASA has been tasked with doing."

To view Lovell's complete comments, please visit: http://www.spacecoalition.com/Published_Op-Eds.cfm.

About the Coalition for Space Exploration
The Coalition for Space Exploration is a group of space industry businesses and advocacy groups who collaborate to educate and inform the public and Congress on the value and benefits of space exploration and to help ensure the United States remains a leader in space, science and technology - key factors that benefit every American, strengthen our nation's economy and maintain our national security.

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HOUSTON - "Slipping across a background of stars, the International Space Station orbits Earth as the most complex scientific and technological venture ever undertaken - an impressive enterprise that is the result of five space agencies and a multitude of international teams representing 16 nations - all working together.

On November 20, the International Space Station (ISS) celebrates 10 years of remarkable growth. On-orbit assembly of the sprawling facility began in 1998 with the launch of the Russian Zarya module. Over the years, construction of the ISS has been near constant with the attachment of more segments, more solar-power panels and the addition of increasing amounts of research equipment.

The ISS has become a home-away-from-home for nearly 20 expeditionary crews representing some 16 nations. The station has been permanently crewed since November 2000. Now outfitted with science and service modules from the United States, Europe, Japan and Russia, the ISS has become an extraordinary, state-of-the-art laboratory for honing our technical expertise in a nearly gravity-free medium.

The U.S. portion of the ISS has been designated as a "national laboratory" to be made available for use by U.S. public and private entities. To this end, the space station can help realize a relatively new human domain for investigation. The prospect for discovery remains rich - in physics, chemistry, the life sciences, for processing materials and to assist in monitoring the Earth's delicate environment.

Slated for completion in 2010, the ISS will also act as a testing ground for the hardware and procedures necessary to support the human leap beyond low Earth orbit: back to the Moon, onward to the distant dunes of Mars and to other destinations within our solar system.

Congratulations are in order, not only to NASA, but the entire global collaboration of countries and companies that have worked diligently over the last decade to build and utilize the International Space Station - truly, a foothold on the future."
Mary Engola, Chairwoman-Public Affairs Team

Coalition for Space Exploration
The Coalition for Space Exploration is a collaboration of space industry businesses and advocacy groups whose mission is to educate and inform the public on the value and benefits of space exploration and to help ensure the United States will remain a leader in space, science and technology - key factors that will benefit every American, strengthen our nation's economy and maintain our national security.
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HOUSTON - "As NASA marks 50 years as an agency, we reflect on its many accomplishments and celebrate the inspiration, innovation and discovery that permeate our lives.

Many across the world have been inspired by NASA's work on Earth and in space. Our Coalition educator and Gen Y board members attest to the motivating factors that enhance classrooms and allow students to reach for the stars in pursuit of their dreams.

The innovations derived from space exploration technology have allowed us to not only set foot on the moon, but provided us with life-saving technologies and daily conveniences that we often take for granted. NASA enabled giant leaps in medical devices such as heart pumps and public safety enhancements such as face masks and fire suits, while also contributing to modern amenities such as cordless power tools and polarized sunglasses.

The last 50 years have yielded amazing discoveries. We eagerly await what the next 50 will hold as we go back to the moon, on to Mars and beyond. I echo our board members' sentiments shared in this celebratory video by saying "Happy 50th Anniversary, NASA!"

Mary Engola, Chairwoman-Public Affairs Team
Coalition for Space Exploration

The Coalition for Space Exploration is a collaboration of space industry businesses and advocacy groups whose mission is to educate and inform the public on the value and benefits of space exploration and to help ensure the United States will remain a leader in space, science and technology - key factors that will benefit every American, strengthen our nation's economy and maintain our national security.

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HOUSTON - Oct. 16, 2008 - The Coalition for Space Exploration, the leading collaboration of space industry businesses and advocacy groups, announced today a statement regarding the importance of a robust space exploration program. Coalition board member, former astronaut and pilot of the first Space Shuttle mission, Bob Crippen, emphasizes the need for both Presidential candidates to ensure NASA remains on course with its program objectives and is afforded the financial means to succeed.

In recent editorials to newspapers, Crippen calls upon lawmakers, "Washington, we have a problem... For years, we have been underfunding NASA - while expanding its mission and responsibilities."

He goes on to discuss how each Presidential candidate's theme - "country first" and "change" - can be directly applied to the needs of America's space program.

"By adequately funding space exploration, we put 'country first,' ensuring our ability to achieve grand technological advancements and enhance our national security and prosperity. A funded commitment to our country's space program certainly qualifies as 'change,' as over the past decade, NASA's budget has been cut seven times, declining to approximately 0.6 percent of the federal budget.

"Today, our space program is transitioning. Our Space Shuttle fleet is scheduled to be retired in 2010 and to be replaced by the Constellation program with its Ares booster and Orion crew spacecraft. The planned retirement of the Shuttle needs to be reassessed considering the current international situation, but any extension must not delay the planned exploration program. That is a budget issue."

Crippen concluded, "In business, science, education and national security, the United States has the people to not only continue to deliver the goods, but to keep us preeminent in the all-important arena of space. All we ask in return is the continued and highly valued bi-partisan support of Congress to put our 'country first' by making a 'change' to adequately fund a robust space exploration program."

To view Crippen's complete comments, visit http://www.spacecoalition.com/Published_Op-Eds.cfm.


About the Coalition for Space Exploration
The Coalition for Space Exploration is a collaboration of space industry businesses and advocacy groups whose mission is to educate and inform the public on the value and benefits of space exploration and to help ensure the United States will remain a leader in space, science and technology - key factors that will benefit every American, strengthen our nation's economy and maintain our national security. For more information, please visit www.spacecoalition.com.

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By Dr. Bernard A. Harris, Jr.