Vision on Space is Welcomed

MEDIA ADVISORY
January 14, 2004
CONTACT: Andrea Seastrand
805-349-2633

The President's Exploration Plan Holds Promise for California's Space Enterprise Community

SACRAMENTO - California's space enterprise community has long been a leader of the US space program. With 28% of global market-share, California holds the research, design, engineering, manufacturing and launch keys to accomplish President George W. Bush's visionary goals. It is not surprising, then, when President Bush issued his challenge for a reinvigorated new space exploration program earlier today, the California Space Authority (CSA), and its members, cheered.

For more information: President's Commission on Moon, Mars, and Beyond.

"California's intellectual capital and technology and manufacturing prowess gave birth to the space industry and have helped the US sustain its global leadership in space technology and enterprise," stated the Honorable Andrea Seastrand, former Congresswoman and current Executive Director of CSA. "It'll be this same knowledge and skill that rises to meet the President's challenge."

An important piece of the President's message is a renewed commitment to manned space flight and to the development of a new manned exploration vehicle. Much of this research is already on-going in California, with a preponderance of next-generation-lift companies residing in the state. Similarly, the emphasis on robotic missions, similar to the current Mars Exploration Rover (MER) mission, is well suited for advanced researched at existing laboratories in California. It should not go unnoticed that the scientists and engineers responsible for MER live and work at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California.

But space exploration is more than merely reaching towards the next planet. Over 1000 technologies spun from past US space programs. Adapted technologies first discovered as a result of the space program have become integral parts of today's society. Meeting the challenge of the President's new initiative will result in even more, new advancements.

"The new initiative put forth today by President Bush goes beyond sending humans to space and learning about what is 'out there'. The initiative will advance technology here on Earth for the betterment of us all. It will sharpen the scientific community in the US," continued Seastrand. "The result of this investment will pay real dividends multiple times."

Examples of technologies that have been developed as a result of the US space program are:

Image processing used in CAT Scanners and MRI technology in hospitals came from technology developed in the effort to computer-enhance pictures taken of the Moon by the Apollo programs.

Kidney dialysis machines were developed as a result of a NASA need for chemical processing.

Insulin pumps were based on technology used on the Mars Viking spacecraft.

Programmable Heart Pacemakers were first developed in the 1970s as a result of NASA satellite electrical systems.

Fetal heart monitors were developed from technology originally used to measure airflow over aircraft wings.

Surgical probes used to treat brain tumors in children resulted from special lighting technologies needed for plant growth experiments on Space Shuttle missions.

Infrared hand-held cameras used to observe plumes from the Shuttle have helped firefighters point out hot spots in wild fires.

Satellite communications have been adopted in the commercial sector to allow news organizations to provide live, on-the-spot broadcasting from anywhere in the world; they have allowed for the network of cellular phone systems to link worldwide; and Global Positioning and Geographic Information Systems are modernizing conveniences for average consumers everyday.

"Tremendous technological advances have come from space exploration and efforts to reach beyond our own horizons," concluded Seastrand. "I am proud that these advances were developed in the US by US engineers and scientists rather than by companies in foreign nations. When one calculates the value to the US economy of these spin-off industries, it is easy to see that the investment of the US space program has paid itself off multiple times."

For more information, see this brief analysis.

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