WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Nick Lampson sent a copy of his Space Exploration Act to the White House as President Bush contemplates announcing a new space policy for NASA. Lampson released the following statement regarding his bill:

“History has shown that great nations explore. TheUnited States must not turn its back on human space exploration at this critical time. We must return the Space Shuttle to flight and complete construction of the International Space Station. At the same time, this Administration and this Congress must provide the American people with a vision and a concrete set of goals for the nation’s future human space flight program.

“I am attempting to push NASA in this direction with my Space Exploration Act (H.R. 3057). This bill requires NASA to design and implement a long range vision for our future in space.

“The phased series of goals over the next 20 years that I propose in this legislation includes human visits to the Earth-Sun libration points and Earth-orbit crossing asteroids, deployment of a human-tended research and habitation facility on the Moon, and human expeditions to the surface and moons of Mars.

“Once America gets started on achieving the first of the human spaceflight goals listed in the bill, we have gotten over the highest hurdle to success in the entire initiative. We will once again be moving outward beyond low Earth orbit. And in the process, we will revitalize our space program, energize our industrial and academic sectors, create new opportunities for international cooperation, and inspire our young people.

“The real obstacle we face in overcoming the drift in the nation’s human space flight program is not technological and it’s not financial – it’s the lack of commitment to get started.”

A copy of the letter to President Bush is attached.

December 9, 2003

The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20502

Dear President Bush:

It is my understanding that you will soon make an announcement about the
future of our national space policy. While I have already shared this
information with Vice President Cheney, let me take this opportunity to
offer my views on this topic with you.

America’s human space flight program is adrift, with no clear vision or
commitment to any goals after the completion of the International Space
Station. I recently reintroduced the Space Exploration Act (H.R. 3057),
legislation that I offered last year, to provide a vision and a concrete set
of goals for the nation’s human space flight program after the International
Space Station. This legislation sets forth specific incremental goals that
are challenging, exciting and that build capabilities and infrastructure
needed for an ultimate human mission to Mars.

I believe we must establish a phased series of goals over the next 20 years
including human visits to the Earth-Sun libration points and Earth-orbit
crossing asteroids, deployment of a human-tended research and habitation
facility on the Moon, and human expeditions to the surface and moons of
Mars. However in the meantime, since the goals are sequenced in terms of
increasing difficulty and complexity, achieving the earlier goals will also
provide the capabilities needed for humans to explore other fascinating
parts of the inner solar system while supporting the nation’s scientific
objectives.

The bill establishes an implementation framework that will allow the best,
most innovative mission concepts to compete. It is an approach similar to
that of the highly successful and innovative Discovery program in NASA’s
space science enterprise. In addition, the implementation approach contains
tough requirements for periodic independent cost and program reviews to
ensure that the exploration initiative is carried out in as cost-efficient
and effective a manner as possible.

The real obstacle we face in overcoming the drift in the nation’s human
space flight program is not technological and it’s not financial – it’s the
lack of commitment to get started. We don’t need another national
commission to come up with goals for human space flight beyond low Earth
orbit. What we need is a national commitment to carry out any one of the
many worthy goals that have been articulated to date.

Once America gets started on achieving the first of the human spaceflight
goals listed in the bill, we have gotten over the highest hurdle to success
in the entire initiative. We will once again be moving outward beyond low
Earth orbit. And in the process, we will revitalize our space program,
energize our industrial and academic sectors, create new opportunities for
international cooperation, and inspire our young people. I hope you will
join me in support of this legislation.

I welcome the opportunity to discuss these issues with you personally.
Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

NICK LAMPSON
Member of Congress