The Aerospace Industries Association welcomes President Trump’s announcement today establishing new policy framework for NASA’s exploration program focused on humans returning to the moon as the first step towards exploring Mars and the solar system. We strongly urge President Trump and Congress to work together to ensure this ambitious initiative is supported with the sustained funding necessary to achieve success.
 
“The aerospace and defense industry continues to support NASA’s human space exploration mission,” said AIA President and CEO David F. Melcher. “On the 45th anniversary of the Apollo 17 mission, it’s particularly appropriate to note the strong, sustained partnership between government and industry that enables our drive to explore the cosmos. We look forward to working with Congress and the Administration to achieve these important goals.”
 
Today’s announcement formalizes the recommendation issued by the National Space Council – chaired by Vice President Pence – in October. It acknowledges the strategic importance of cislunar space as a stepping stone to advance human space exploration further into the solar system. AIA and its member companies have long advocated for policies that assure America’s 21st century space competitiveness. This announcement is an important milestone in that priority.
 
“This announcement gives us a strong, decisive direction for America’s human space exploration program,” Melcher said. “Today’s dream fuels tomorrow’s reality and builds hope for the future. That vision is key to unleashing industry’s innovation and imagination, and inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers.”
 
The aerospace and defense industry employs 2.4 million people in the United States – constituting fully 13% of the U.S. manufacturing base – and has the opportunity to continue attracting America’s best and brightest to its workforce of high-skill, high-wage jobs with the promise of a continued drive to space.
 
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CONTACT:  Dan Stohr
(703) 358-1078 office
(703) 517-8173 mobile
dan.stohr@aia-aerospace.org