. 24/7 Space News .
New Bush Space Speech Planned

 by Frank Sietzen
 Washington (UPI) May 10, 2004
May 10 (UPI) -- President George W. Bush plans to make a major speech early this summer defending his plan for a new U.S. space exploration initiative, administration sources told United Press International.

Sources said although drafting the speech -- termed a vigorous call to support the president's new space exploration policy he announced last January -- has not yet begun, aides have been narrowing prospective dates and venues.

"The president wants to speak about space," a senior administration source said.

The speech apparently will be timed to coincide with a report by the presidential commission appointed earlier this year to review the space plan and seek broad public comment. The commission, headed by former Pentagon executive Pete Aldridge and featuring leaders from industry, non-profit groups and the military, is expected to release its report in July.

Sources said Bush has been briefed on the hearings held by the commission and is awaiting its report to help frame his forthcoming remarks. Despite the approaching presidential election, the speech, which will reiterate Bush's call for advanced human exploration of space, will not necessarily be made "in a political context."

Sources said although there has not been widespread support for the space plan since its debut, the president has felt no need to rush to make additional public comments. Bush has remained "highly enthusiastic" about his space proposal and his lack of additional mentions of the idea should not be taken as a cooling of interest, they said.

UPI also has learned new details about the space exploration plan. For one thing, the reorganization plan for NASA meant to coincide with the new effort, now named Project Constellation, "is not ready to go," sources said. Senior space agency leadership is focusing on the reorganization plan -- also to be rolled out following release of the presidential commission's report and drafted "in tandem" with its recommendations.

"It's a stew still in the making," one source said, describing the effort, which looks to be the most far-reaching revamping of NASA since its creation in 1958. However, one element now described as "off the table" is the possibility of closing any of the agency's field centers.

"That's not under consideration," a source said, adding that virtually every other type of organizational change is still on the table.

Another new development: NASA has become increasingly optimistic that some form of robotic rescue is possible for the aging Hubble Space Telescope.

Sources said contrary to some news reports about how NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe's Jan. 16 announcement -- in which he said there would be no more space shuttle missions to the Hubble -- came abruptly, O'Keefe had briefed Bush about the impending announcement in mid-December, warning him it would be a contentious issue.

Reportedly, Bush agreed, saying at one point, "You must do what you have to do."

Later, during a briefing by NASA officials following the public outcry over the Hubble decision, Bush simply said, "Never look back," and added, "Go forth every single day and do the best job you can."

Bush also told senior NASA leaders: "The worst thing that can happen is the (voters) send me back to Crawford (Texas) -- so that's liberating."

Meanwhile, NASA, prodded by the White House, is beginning to examine ways to involve foreign countries in the new space exploration program. Agency officials are developing a plan to open up the various elements of the project to international participation. That plan also is expected to be completed and released this summer.

Along those lines, NASA management is said to be going "back and forth" on the issue of when, in the process of assembling the International Space Station, to launch the Japanese Kibo research module. Current plans call for its flight to the station to come late in the assembly sequence.

The late scheduling has been strongly criticized by the Japanese government, to the point where some officials have suggested canceling the project and putting the laboratory "in a science museum," according to a source who has worked with Japan on the issue.

All rights reserved. Copyright 2004 by United Press International. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by United Press International. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of by United Press International.

Related Links
SpaceDaily
Search SpaceDaily
Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express

Planning for Mars, The Stafford Way
 Washington - May 07, 2004
In the early 1990's, former astronaut Thomas Stafford was asked to come up with a plan for human missions to the Moon and Mars. In his most recent testimony to the Presidential Commission on the Moon, Mars and Beyond, Stafford revisited that reference design adding his unique perspective. The informal commentary provided a fascinating exchange on what to do and what not to do in mission planning.



Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only














The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.