Why Space Always Fares Badly In Presidential Politics
Keith’s note: The best way to ensure that space exploration is allowed to proceed in the way that it should is for everyone to just sit down and shut up. It never fares well when injected into presidential campaigns. When space is put along side something else or emphasized instead of something else invariably you get “what about [insert other issue] instead of space”. Oh yes: “manned presence”? “Manned mission to Mars”? So much for the whole “first woman on the Moon” thing.
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I don’t see why they bother. Space exploration might receive positive polling from Americans, but actual support or care about it is thin on the ground. It lives because of congressional politics and the activism of space supporters, not popular politics.
After testifying to the Senate in the summer of 2019 & talking to Senators & members of the House, I realized that few in power in DC really understand that space is a place like Arizona or West Virginia or Alaska, not an inspirational playhouse for national prestige. That’s why when politicians talk about space, they usually do so while looking through the wrong lens. Although my discussions with the VP tells me he kind of gets my point on all this, I doubt that our government at large will ever really understand that spaceflight has the potential of bringing a huge amount of wealth to the US and the Earth’s economy. Instead, it just emphasizes “firsts” that nobody really cares about and ignores the fundamental reasons to go is to bring back the resources, knowledge, and science that we need to prosper commercially, intellectually, and spiritually. I suppose that’s going to take Elon and Jeff so let’s hope the federal government will at least stay out of their way.
First thing in my lifetime with the potential to change that is sitting at Boca Chica right now.
I have been preaching that for almost two decades:
Space is a PLACE not a program.
It has been my experience to observe for the past few decades that when Space gets treated like a ‘Political Football’, it’s usually the first thing to get kicked to the curb after an election – especially if there is a change in Administration.
Pete needs to read more closely. The GOP priority list was “some of” not “top four”.
Buttigieg is on point. Trump has to demonstrate any commitment to minimizing the impact of this pandemic. In fact, Trump seems be doing the opposite with his statements, actions, and is public disputes with the experts working under him. It’s arguably true that COVID-19 is not in Trump’s top four priorities, no matter the wording of the GOP tweet.
If SpaceX can achieve operational status for Starship and has even a small lunar capable fleet sitting on the ground waiting for the 26 month window to Mars to open. Luna will see a land grab not seen since 1500’s, in my opinion. What do you call 50 starships dropping people off on Luna?
A constituency.
“constituency
a body of voters in a specified area who elect a representative to a legislative body.”
Make Luna important for the water ice at the south pole and we will see action by congress.