House Majority Leader Tom DeLay: "Return to the Moon"

US Newswire ^ | December 17, 2003 | Tom Delay press release

[Cincinatus' Wife]

SUGAR LAND, Texas, Dec. 17 /U.S. Newswire/ -- House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) today called for the expansion of the United States space program, beginning with the return of man to the moon.

"It's time our space program took on a new mission, a new vision, a new calling," DeLay said. "In an age of dynamic technological advancement and military uncertainty, a national commitment to space is not a voluntary initiative: it is a strategic imperative.

"Whether it's to serve as a base for new research or a staging area for expeditions to Mars or even outside our own solar system, America must establish a more robust and permanent human presence in space, starting with our return to the moon.

"Too many great questions remain unanswered, and mankind will not answer them without an intrepid commitment by the American people to conquer the unknown," DeLay said. "And the first step is our return to the moon.

"The shuttle will fly again. The next generation of manned spaceflight will take NASA to new heights. Things we learn in space have application for further exploration of course, but also for improving the quality of our lives here on earth."

DeLay's current suburban Houston congressional district is a neighbor of NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC). Most JSC employees reside in DeLay's district.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Washington Times A golden frontier*** The moon is a natural laboratory, where we can prepare for space journeys farther afield. It is a goal reachable with modest resources, yet challenging enough for the next generation of planetary explorers. It is a goal worthy of the spirit embodied in Columbia's brave crew, who gave their lives in the relentless human desire to understand the unknown. It is the right goal in space and the right space goal for America.***

Earlier post

[newgeezer]

I used to think DeLay was a conservative, and not a big spender.

My bad.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

SpaceShipOne Breaks the Sound Barrier

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Don't dismiss this as pork, until you understand the danger of leaving the Moon to another country.

[biblewonk]

I used to think DeLay was a conservative, and not a big spender.

That could be repeated about a lot of "them".

[RightWhale]

When Congress wants to expand the space program, then the space program will be expanded. Looks like that time is now. So Pres Bush will announce this already accomplished fact soon. JFK did the same: announced something the House had already decided they would do.

[TheCrusader]

""Whether it's to serve as a base for new research or a staging area for expeditions to Mars or even outside our own solar system, America must establish a more robust and permanent human presence in space, starting with our return to the moon."

Sounds like some people think we'll get to Heaven through the back door with science. You sure this was Tom DeLay and not Art Bell?

[Mr. Mojo]

[SpinyNorman]

Privately, he said "bang, zoom, right to the moon, Daschle!"

[biblewonk]

Don't dismiss this as pork, until you understand the danger of leaving the Moon to another country.

Could you splain that one.

[squidly]

What's on the moon? Rocks?

[billorites]

First thing DeLay would do on the moon is redistrict.

[Mr. Mojo]

Sounds like some people think we'll get to Heaven through the back door with science. You sure this was Tom DeLay and not Art Bell?

Art Bell deals in fantasy; humans going to the moon is a reality, and has been for the better part of a half century. What in the world does this have to do with religion/Heaven? Are you afraid that the exploration of our solar system - science - would necessarily hurt religion?

[steve50]

What's on the moon? Rocks?

I'm sure it's for the children, at least I hope so since they'll be the ones paying for it.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Interesting point. I believe there is a lot of back and forth going on between the White House and Congress. When the announcement comes, it will be an agreed upon plan.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Now China is sending a man into space. Why?

10 Reasons to Put Humans Back on the Moon

***I want to discuss a new destination for America in space - the Moon. Although we conducted our initial visits to that body over 30 years ago, we have recently made several important discoveries that indicate a return to the Moon offers many advantages and benefits to the nation. In addition to being a scientifically rich object for study, the Moon offers abundant material and energy resources, the feedstock of an industrial space infrastructure. Once established, such an infrastructure will revolutionize space travel, assuring us of continuous, routine access to cislunar space (i.e., the space between and around Earth and Moon) and beyond. The value of the Moon as a space destination has not escaped the notice of other countries - at least four new robotic missions are currently being flown or prepared by Europe, India, Japan, and China and advanced planning for human missions in many of these countries is already underway. ***Source

[Cincinatus' Wife]

#16

[Cincinatus' Wife]

#16

[newgeezer]

I used to think 1994 was the beginning of something good, that the Republicans would undo a lot of wrongs done by the Dems during their 40 years of controlling the House.

Boy, was I ever wrong about that.

[Hank Rearden]

It'd be a whole lot easier to afford if the "limited government" Republicrats hadn't just decided to piss away a trillion dollars on "free" pills, in their latest vote-buying scam.