Back to the Future

If you read this blog consistently you know that I am a strong proponent of human space travel, and the importance of scientific exploration both for its own sake, and for the economic and national security implications. I have lamented the end of the shuttle program, lauded the success of SpaceX, and even offered praise to Newt Gingrich of all people for be willing to look forward on such an important issue.

Sadly, it appears as though Newt is the only American politician who shares my love of space and the recognition that investing in space technologies is imperative for continued preeminence. Though American politicians are remarkably shortsighted about this, the Chinese have a firm grasp the idea.

I applaud the private sector approach to space exploration that Obama has championed, but I'm also angry at the President for not investing more in what was once the world's premier space agency. While American politicians - and perhaps American voters - worry about the near future, we are ceding the longterm battle in a number of realms, chief among them alternative energy and space technology.

It shouldn't be necessary for me to point out the tangible benefits we have already reaped from our investment in space travel. New products and technologies that benefit consumers are direct spinoffs from NASA programs, and American national security depends on space technology. We are currently decades ahead in the field, but a gap that currently exists in decades will dwindle to years quickly, and without further investment we will be the ones looking up to another space-based superpower.

The American economy, American military, and American people have a future in space. We have the means to reinvest in NASA, and to benefit from its revitalization, but we lack the will power, and everyday that we cede to China or other countries is one day in which the stagnant American space program loses ground in a field that will have profound implications on our economic and military future.

We need to go back to the future, back to when a generation of Americans looked in awe to the stars and what could be achieved among them. Back to when these words rang true, "We choose to do these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard."

America's future as well as the future of humanity lies in space. If our politicians could be imbued with the foresight that their Chinese counterparts display, perhaps we would take steps to reinvigorate a space program that has been a boon to Americans in the past and could be again in the future.