Posey touts NASA, urges closure of flight gap

Thursday, October 08, 2009

by Mark Matthews

WASHINGTON—U.S. Rep. Bill Posey told the White House in a floor speech Thursday that it needs to keep its “promise” to close the flight gap between the space shuttle, due to retire in 2010 or 2011, and the first launch of its replacement vehicle, slated for a first launch in 2015.

The Rockledge Republican delivered the challenge just as an independent space panel is set to issue its recommendations for the future of human spaceflight, including the viability of NASA’s Constellation program, which combines new Ares rockets with a manned capsule but has run into technical and financial problems that have cast doubt on a 2015 launch date.

“The president promised he would close the gap between our space shuttle program and our Constellation program and we all need to be committed to helping the president of the United States keep his word,” said Posey, speaking after major business had ended for the day.
Posey, who represents many workers at Kennedy Space Center, also touted the benefits of sending astronauts into space.

“The typical American home contains dozens and dozens of inventions and spin-offs from Americans investment in space,” he said, listing flat-screen televisions, fire-resistant fabric and carbon monoxide detectors. “Chances are you enjoy using batteries, cell phones, laptops, calculators, even Velcro. If so, you’ve benefited from our space exploration.”

This article is reprinted from http://www.orlandosentinel.com