"At 3:30pm EST today(03.31.11), SEDS-USA Chairman Rick Hanton sent our letter to many congressional staffers, the white house, and a variety of media outlets from over 250 students stating their belief in the promise of commercial spaceflight in the United States.
The letter was organized and sent out by students from SEDS,... that wanted to make their voice heard in the conversation about commercial spaceflight on capitol hill.
If you are a student who did not already sign this letter, we invite you to take a look at what we have written and sign to show your support if you agree with the points we have made." - Press release c/o SEDS (Students for the Exploration and Development of Space.)
Excerpts from the letter:
"Over the past year, many groups have offered their opinions on the best way for the US government to foster space exploration. However, one critical perspective has been missing from this conversation: that of the next generation.
"Everyone wins when NASA partners with the commercial spaceflight industry.
NASA always has been and, we hope, always will be the world’s leader for human spaceflight. No other organization can boast of the accomplishments or the institutional legacy of NASA. However, NASA need not be the only way for people to get to space.
"Allow NASA to explore the solar system again by embracing commercial spaceflight.
The International Space Station (ISS) is an amazing and unprecedented laboratory. With ISS just beginning to fully deliver on its promise, it is critical that we keep the station in orbit and in service. We are united in believing that, by embracing commercial spaceflight and thereby reducing costs, NASA can refocus its exploration program to look beyond Earth’s orbit.
"Commercial companies will help grow tomorrow’s workforce through inspiring STEM outreach and hands-on training.
Many people have spoken about the need to encourage more students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). As students, we believe that commercial companies—benefiting from the promotional resources and public attention that private firms command—will do a spectacular job of inspiring the next generation of STEM professionals. After all, what could be more inspirational than telling America’s youth that they will have the opportunity to go to space themselves; not just a handful of the most talented and fortunate, but all of them who desire to do so?
"...in the late 1960s, the average age in NASA’s Mission Control was only about twenty-eight. People not much older than we are now played an enormous role in one of the crowning achievements in the history of the world. We believe that if NASA is refocused on developing new technology and on operating in partnership with the emerging commercial spaceflight sector, the youthful energy and excitement that allowed the Apollo missions to inspire the world and to reach unprecedented success will be rekindled."
For the full text of the letter, and other information on SEDS, check out the SEDS website.
