>> President Obama: TODAY I'D
LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE NEXT
CHAPTER IN THE STORY.
WE WILL INCREASE EARTH-BASED
OBSERVATIONS.
AND, WE WILL EXTEND THE LIFE OF
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
WE WILL BUILD ON THE GOOD WORK
ALREADY DONE ON THE ORION CREW
CAPSULE.
>> President Obama: WE WILL
INCREASE INVESTMENT RIGHT AWAY
IN OTHER GROUNDBREAKING
TECHNOLOGIES.
WE WANT TO LEAP INTO THE FUTURE.
BY INVESTING IN GROUNDBREAKING
RESEARCH AND INNOVATIVE
COMPANIES.
WE ARE GOING TO MODERNIZE THE
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, CREATING
JOBS AS WE UPGRADE LAUNCH
FACILITIES.
WE WILL PARTNER WITH INDUSTRY,
WE WILL INVEST IN CUTTING-EDGE
RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY.
THE SPACE PROGRAM HAS FUELED
JOBS IN ENTIRE INDUSTRIES AND IN
FULFILLING THIS TASK WE WILL NOT
ONLY EXTEND HUMANITY'S REACH IN
SPACE, WE WILL STRENGTHEN
AMERICA'S LEADERSHIP HERE ON
EARTH.
[APPLAUSE]
>> GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO
THE CENTER FOR AMERICAN
PROGRESS.
AS WE DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF
HUMAN SPACE EXPLORATION WITH OUR
SPECIAL GUEST, THE ADMINISTRATOR
OF NASA.
THIS IS THE SECOND PROGRAM IN
THE SERIES ON SPACE EXPLORATION
HERE AT C.A.P.
IN JUNE WE REMEMBERED ASTRONAUT
ED WHITE ON THE 50th
ANNIVERSARY OF HIS HISTORIC WALK
IN SPACE AND ITS IMPACT ON OUR
COUNTRY IN 1965.
AS WE NOTED THEN, OUR PRIME
FOCUS IS LOOKING FORWARD INTO
SPACE.
WHERE WE WILL GO, HOW WE WILL
GET THERE, WHO WILL COME WITH
US, AND MAYBE WHO WE MIGHT MEET
ALONG THE WAY.
THIS MORNING, THE C.A.P. WEBSITE
HAS POSTED A COLUMN WRITTEN BY
OUR COLLEAGUE, PETER JUUL,
FORGING A NEW CONSENSUS ON
AMERICA'S JOURNEY INTO SPACE.
NASA ISSUED ITS REPORT "JOURNEY
TO MARS" PIONEERING NEXT STEPS
IN SPACE EXPLORATION EARLIER
THIS MONTH.
TO QUOTE THE REPORT, AS PIONEERS
WE WORK TO BLAZE THE TRAIL FOR
OTHERS.
WE PIONEER SPACE TO DISCOVER
LIFE, IDENTIFY RESOURCES, FOSTER
ECONOMIC GROWTH, INSPIRE AND
EDUCATE, PROTECT OURSELVES FROM
SPACE-BASED THREATS, AND, LEAVE
A BETTER FUTURE FOR THE NEXT
GENERATION.
THE REPORT ADDED -- WHILE FAR
AWAY, MARS IS A GOAL WITHIN OUR
REACH.
MARS ALSO FEATURED IN ANOTHER
REPORT PREPARED FOR THE
PLANETARY SOCIETY THAT PRECEDED
THIS NASA REPORT.
TO QUOTE THAT REPORT -- THE
HUMAN EXPLORATION OF MARS IS
AFFORDABLE, MUCH OF THE
NECESSARY TECHNOLOGY IS UNDER
DEVELOPMENT, AND LESSONS LEARNED
FROM THE ROBOTIC MARS
EXPLORATION PROGRAM CAN BE
APPLIED IN ORDER TO BUILD A
CONSISTENT POLITICALLY STABLE
PROGRAM THAT SPANS DECADES.
TWO REPORTS, DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVES, BUT A COMMON
CONCLUSION.
A HUMAN TRIP TO MARS IS WITHIN
OUR GRASP.
WE ALSO BEGIN THIS PROGRAM TODAY
WITH THE RAREST OF COMMODITIES
IN WASHINGTON.
A LITTLE BIT OF OPTIMISM.
IT APPEARS THERE MAY BE A
TWO-YEAR BUDGET AGREEMENT THAT
WILL MOVE THE CURRENT DEADLOCK
OF SEQUESTRATION AND DEBT
CEILINGSES TO A GREATER
UNDERSTANDING OF OPPORTUNITY AT
LEAST FOR A PERIOD LONG ENOUGH
TO CATCH OUR BREATH AND TO BE
REMINDED THAT WHEN WE WORK
TOGETHER, BIG ACCOMPLISHMENTS
ARE POSSIBLE.
LET ME OPEN THE DOOR FOR
CONSENSUS, AN ELEMENT OF
DEMOCRACY THAT IS AS IMPORTANT
AS OXYGEN IS FOR ASTRONAUTS.
ON EDUCATION, WE WANT TO ENSURE
THAT THE NEXT GENERATION HAS THE
TOOLS TO PUSH THE BOUNDARY OF
ACCOMPLISHMENT ON PLANET EARTH,
AND ON A FLIGHT TO MARS.
AND, ON TECHNOLOGY AND
INNOVATION, TO FOSTER JOBS,
OPPORTUNITY, AND LEADERSHIP ON
REACHING THE STARS AND IN THE
PROCESS, MAKING LIVES BETTER IN
OUR CITIES AND TOWNS.
TODAY, A NEW GENERATION OF
AMERICANS, SCIENTISTS,
ENGINEERS, ASTRONAUT EXPLORERS,
NASA AND PRIVATE-SECTOR LEADERS,
ARE LOOKING FOR THE CONSENSUS IN
COMMON AGREEMENT THAT WILL BRING
THAT TRIP TO MARS WITHIN REACH.
THE TECHNICAL CHALLENGES
INVOLVING GETTING ASTRONAUTS TO
MARS ARE DAUNTING.
AND THE LONG-TERM PHYSICAL AND
PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS ON SUCH A
JOURNEY REMAIN UNCERTAIN.
BUT THE PROSPECTS FOR AMERICAN
LEADERSHIP IN HUMAN EXPLORATION
BEYOND LOW-EARTH ORBIT ARE
BRIGHTER THAN THEY HAVE BEEN FOR
DECADES.
THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE
COMPANIES ARE SLOWLY, BUT
SURELY, PUTTING INTO PLACE MANY
OF THE CAPABILITIES NEEDED TO
SEND HUMANS TO MARS.
HOWEVER, MANY CRITICAL QUESTIONS
ARE STILL TO BE FRAMED.
TO DISCUSS THESE TOPICS THIS
MORNING AT C.A.P., WE HAVE THE
ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NATIONAL
AERONAUTICS AND SPACE
ADMINISTRATION, CHARLES BOLDEN
JR.
WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE
THIS MORNING.
HE IS A LEADER OF PARTICULAR
ACCOMPLISHMENT, NAVAL ACADEMY,
MASTER OF SCIENCE UNIVERSITY OF
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, I HAD TO
PUT THAT IN BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER
IS A TROJAN UNDERGRADUATE RIGHT
NOW -- SO FIGHT ON -- UM, HE IS
AN ASTRONAUT, MAJOR GENERAL
RETIRED UNITED STATES MARINE
CORPS, 100 COMBAT MISSIONS IN
VIETNAM.
DEPUTY COMMANDER OF U.S. FORCES
IN JAPAN, PILOT OF TWO SPACE
SHUTTLE MISSIONS INCLUDING THE
DEPLOYMENT OF THE HUBBLE SPACE
TELESCOPE, AND, COMMANDER OF TWO
MORE SHUTTLE MISSIONS, INCLUDING
THE FIRST JOINT U.S. RUSSIA
SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION.
AS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF NASA,
CHARLIE BOLDEN HAS LED THE
AGENCY ON THE SPACE LAUNCH
SYSTEM AND THE ORION SPACE CRAFT
FOR HUMAN DEEP-SPACE TRAVEL, NEW
APPROACHES ON ACQUISITIONS,
PROTOTYPES TO PROVIDE U.S.
ASTRONAUTS AMERICAN ACCESS TO
LOW-EARTH ORBIT.
AND, HIS TENURE INCLUDES THE
CURIOSITY ROVER ROLLING ON MARS,
PROBES TO JUPITER, OUR FIRST
CLOSE-UP ENCOUNTER WITH THE
PLANET PLUTO, AND THE LAUNCHING
OF THE NEXT GENERATION WEB SPACE
TELESCOPE.
IT'S A CONSIDERABLE RECORD OF
PUBLIC SERVICE AND MILITARY
ACCOMPLISHMENT.
AND, SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN
WELCOMING NASA ADMINISTRATOR
CHARLIE BOLDEN TO C.A.P., IN HIS
TALK THIS MORNING.
[APPLAUSE]
>> Mr. Bolden: GOOD MORNING,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RUDY AND
PETER AND A SPECIAL THANKS TO
EVERYONE HERE AT THE CENTER FOR
AMERICAN PROGRESS FOR ALLOWING
ME TO COME IN AND SHARE WITH YOU
MY PERSPECTIVES ON THE FUTURE OF
HUMAN EXPLORATION.
AND, FIRST THING I WOULD TELL
EVERYBODY IS -- RELAX, SIT BACK,
TAKE A DEEP BREATH, I PROMISE I
WILL TRY NOT TO BORE YOU.
WE DO HAVE Q. AND A. COMING UP
LATER SO YOU CAN COME AT ME IN
ANY WAY YOU WANT.
THERE'S A FAMOUS STORY ABOUT THE
GREEK PHILOSOPHER THALES.
ONE DAY HE'S WALKING ALONG
LOOKING UP AT THE SKY,
MESMERIZED AT THE STARS, AND
HE'S SO EXCITED, SO AMAZED, SO
TAKEN BY WHAT HE SEES ABOVE HIM,
THAT HE WALKS RIGHT INTO A WELL.
IN A SENSE, THAT'S THE OLD WAY
OF THINKING ABOUT SPACE AND
SPACE EXPLORATION.
THAT SOMEHOW, GAZING UP AT THE
STARS OR THINKING ABOUT ALL THE
POSSIBILITIES THE FUTURE HAS IN
STORE FOR US, DISTRACTS OR TAKES
US AWAY FROM CARING ABOUT WHAT'S
GOING ON RIGHT HERE ON EARTH.
OF THE THINGS I ADMIRE MOST
ABOUT MY BOSS, PRESIDENT OBAMA,
IS THAT HE REJECTS THIS WAY OF
THINKING.
I LIKE TO TELL PEOPLE HE CAN
WALK AND CHEW GUM.
INSTEAD, HE BELIEVES THAT
STRONGLY THAT THE THINGS WE DO
IN SPACE IMPROVE OUR QUALITY OF
LIFE HERE ON EARTH.
MORE THAN FIVE YEARS AGO, APRIL
15, 2010, TO BE PRECISE, IN WHAT
I CONSIDER TO BE A MAJOR SPACE
POLICY ADDRESS, HE OFFERED A
PLATFORM FOR SPACE EXPLORATION
AT THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER IN
CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA.
THE PRESIDENT TALKED ABOUT THE
DUAL PURPOSE OF EXTENDING
HUMANITY'S PRESIDENT, FARTHER
INTO THE UNIVERSE WHILE
STRENGTHENING AT THE VERY SAME
TIME OUR COUNTRY'S LEADERSHIP
HERE ON EARTH.
HE EXPLAINED THAT THESE GOALS
ARE REALLY ONE IN THE SAME.
IN A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD OF
TIME, THE SPACE PROGRAM HAS
REVOLUTIONIZED THE WAY WE
PRACTICED MEDICINE, INSULATE OUR
HOUSES, PURIFY OUR WATER, WEAR
OUR EYE GLASSES, OBTAIN
TELEVISION AND RADIO SIGNALS,
STAY SAFE ON OUR HIGHWAYS,
PROTECT OUR FIREFIGHTERS.
FEED OUR BABIES, POWER OUR
ELECTRICAL GRID, AND LIE DOWN
FOR A NIGHT'S SLEEP.
THAT, OF COURSE, IS ONLY THE
SHORT LIST.
BY THE WAY, DESPITE THE POPULAR
MISCONCEPTION, WE DON'T CLAIM
ANY CREDIT FOR VELCRO OR TANG.
EXPLORATION HAS TAUGHT US MORE
THAN WE HAVE EVER KNOWN ABOUT
OUR UNIVERSE AND OUR PLACE IN
IT.
DATA AND IMAGERY FROM SATELLITES
AND THE SPACE SCIENTIST WHO
INTERPRET THIS INFORMATION, HAVE
EDUCATED US ABOUT OUR PLANET'S
CHANGING CLIMATE.
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION,
WHICH I BELIEVE OUGHT TO BE
CONSIDERED FOR A NOBEL PEACE
PRIZE, HAS ALREADY TAUGHT US
ABOUT WHAT'S POSSIBLE WHEN TENS
OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ACROSS 15
COUNTRIES, COLLABORATE SO THAT
HUMAN BEINGS FROM DIFFERENT
NATIONS CAN LIVE AND WORK IN
SPACE TOGETHER.
YET, FOR ALL THESE
ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WHEN YOU
CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITIES AHEAD
OF US, THERE'S REALLY ONLY ONE
CONCLUSION THAT CAN BE REACHED.
WE ARE JUST GETTING STARTED.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT AMERICAN
PROGRESS, I THINK, ACTUALLY,
ABOUT MY THREE GRANDDAUGHTERS.
YOU SEE, I HAVE BEEN BLESSED IN
MY LIFE, RICHLY BLESSED.
WHEN I GREW UP IN COLOMBIA,
SOUTH CAROLINA, DURING THE DAYS
OF LEGAL SEGREGATION, BECAUSE OF
THE COLOR OF MY SKIN, I HAD TO
FIGHT JUST TO BE CONSIDERED FOR
APPOINTMENT TO THE UNITED STATES
NAVAL ACADEMY.
I NEVER WOULD HAVE DREAMED THAT
I WOULD BE TALKING TO YOU TODAY,
NOT JUST AS A 34-YEAR VETERAN OF
THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS,
AND AN ASTRONAUT, BUT ALSO, AS
NASA ADMINISTRATOR SERVING UNDER
OUR FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT.
I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO BE ABLE
TO TRAVEL TO NEARLY EVERY CORNER
OF OUR WORLD AND I HAVE BEEN
BLESSED TO HAVE SEEN THE PLANET
FROM SPACE OVER THE COURSE OF
FOUR SPACE SHUTTLE MISSIONS.
I CAN HONESTLY TELL YOU THAT OUT
OF EVERYTHING I HAVE SEEN,
HOWEVER, THERE IS NOTHING, NOT A
SINGLE THING, QUITE AS
AWE-INSPIRING AS BEING ABLE TO
LOOK INTO THE EYES OF MY THREE
BEAUTIFUL GRANDDAUGHTERS,
MIKAYLE, KIERA AND TALA.
TO ME, AMERICAN PROGRESS IS ALL
ABOUT THE WORLD IN WHICH THEY
WILL GROW UP.
THE WORLD WHERE THEY WILL SOME
DAY RAISE THEIR OWN CHILDREN AND
GRANDCHILDREN.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR JOURNEY
TO MARS, AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
THE NEXT GIANT LEAPS IN SPACE,
EXPLORATION, WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT THEIR GENERATION.
I LIKE TO REFER TO THIS
GENERATION AS THE SPACE
GENERATION.
NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE PLACES
THEY WILL GO BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF
THE EXPANSIVE WAY THEY LOOK AT
OUR WORLD.
OUR UNIVERSE AND THE
POSSIBILITIES THAT AWAIT THEM
BEYOND LIFE HERE ON EARTH.
WHEN I HAVE TOLD MY
GRANDDAUGHTERS WE ARE ON A
JOURNEY TO MARS, THEY ALWAYS ASK
ME -- WHY STOP THERE?
IN BROADER TERMS, THAT'S THEIR
ATTITUDE TOWARD HUMANITY, TOWARD
HUMAN POSSIBILITY, AND AMERICAN
PROGRESS.
WHY STOP THERE?
EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
WITH THIS IN MIND, I WANT TO
TALK TO YOU JUST A LITTLE BIT
TODAY ABOUT WHERE I BELIEVE WE
CAN BE HEADED AS A COUNTRY WHEN
IT COMES TO SPACE EXPLORATION
AND TO EARTHLY BENEFITS THAT
COME FROM IT.
TO PUT THIS INTO CONTEXT, IT'S
WORTH JUST VERY BRIEFLY TO THINK
BACK TO THE EVENTS THAT BROUGHT
US TO THIS PRESENT TIME.
PRESIDENTS SINCE DWIGHT
EISENHOWER THAT FLOATED THE IDEA
OF GOING TO MARS.
BUT IN FEBRUARY, ON FEBRUARY 1,
2003, TRAGEDY STRUCK FOR THE
SECOND TIME WHEN WE LOST A SPACE
SHUTTLE COLOMBIA.
AFTER GIVING THINGS A LONG, HARD
LOOK, THE COLOMBIA ACCIDENT
INVESTIGATION BOARD MADE THE
RECOMMENDATION THAT THE SPACE
SHUTTLE PROGRAM SHOULD BE PHASED
OUT.
THE SHUTTLE HAD ALREADY HAD A
REMARKABLE THREE-DECADES-LONG
RUN LIKE NO OTHER.
I TRAVELED TO SPACE FOUR TIMES
ON THE SHUTTLE AND I CAN TELL
YOU THAT I LOVE THE SPACECRAFT.
THERE'S NEVER BEEN A VEHICLE
QUITE LIKE IT.
A RE-USEABLE SPACE CRAFT WITH
THE BEAUTY OF AN AIRPLANE,
ACTUALLY THE WORLD'S LARGEST
GLIDER.
AND THE CAPACITY TO CARRY EIGHT
ASTRONAUTS TO SPACE WITH A
60-FOOT PAYLOAD BAY.
BUT, EVERY TECHNOLOGY EVOLVES
OVER TIME AND, ALTHOUGH THIS WAS
A DECISION TO WHICH I DIDN'T
ARRIVE LIGHTLY, I AGREED WITH
THEIR RECOMMENDATION.
AS DID MANY IN THE SPACE
COMMUNITY AT THE TIME.
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH AGREED,
AS WELL, AND HE MADE WHAT I
BELIEVE WAS THE RIGHT DECISION
TO DIRECT THE PHASE-OUT OF THE
SPACE SHUTTLE PROGRAM.
FAST FORWARD A FEW YEARS TO THE
WINTER OF 2009.
UPON TAKING OFFICE, PRESIDENT
OBAMA ASKED AN INDEPENDENT
COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY FORMER
LOCKHEED C.E.O. NORM AUGUSTINE
TO REVIEW THE PLANS FOR SPICE
FLIGHT.
THE COMMITTEE INCLUDED
EDUCATORS, ENGINEERS, A RETIRED
AIR FORCE GENERAL -- PEOPLE AS
DISTINGUISHED AS THE LATE SALLY
RIDE.
THEIR FINDINGS QUITE FRANKLY,
WERE SOBERING.
I QUOTE -- THE U.S. HUMAN
SPACE-FLIGHT PROGRAM APPEARS TO
BE ON AN UNSUSTAINABLE
TRAJECTORY.
UNQUOTE.
A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE REPORT'S
RELEASE IN APRIL 2010, PRESIDENT
OBAMA CAME TO THE KENNEDY SPACE
CENTER AND LAID OUT THE PLAN I
MENTIONED EARLIER.
THIS PLAN THAT WOULD REPLACE
THIS UNSUSTAINABLE TRAJECTORY
WITH A CLEAR, AFFORDABLE
FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE AND
AMBITIOUS WAY FORWARD, A WAY
FORWARD THAT WOULD EXPAND OUR
PRESENCE DEEPER INTO THE
UNIVERSE, WHILE STRENGTHENING
OUR NATION'S LEADERSHIP HERE AT
HOME.
THE PRESIDENT'S PLAN INCLUDED
RAMPING UP ROBOTIC EXPLORATION
OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM, COMMITMENT
TO COMPLETING THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THE JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE
TO BUILD ON HUBBLE'S LEGACY, AND
AN INCREASE IN EARTH SCIENCE
MISSIONS THAT TEACH US ABOUT
CLIMATE CHANGE.
AND HOW TO POTENTIALLY REVERSE
ITS IMPACTS.
THE CENTERPIECE OF THE
PRESIDENT'S PLAN WAS, AND IS, A
JOURNEY TO MARS THAT WILL
CULMINATE WITH SENDING AMERICAN
ASTRONAUTS TO AN ASTEROID IN THE
2020s AND THE RED PLANET IN
THE 2030s.
TO COMPLETE THIS JOURNEY, THE
PLAN CONCENTRATES BOTH ON
GETTING TO DEEP SPACE, AND, ON
EXTENDING THE LIFE OF THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION IN
LOWER ORBIT ENABLED BY A ROBUST
AND DEPENDABLE COMMERCIAL LAUNCH
SYSTEM FOR CARGO AND CREW.
AND, AS A REPLACEMENT FOR THE
SPACE SHUTTLE.
THE REASON THAT KEEPING THE
SPACE STATION OPERATIONAL IS SO
IMPORTANT IS THAT IT ALLOWS OUR
ASTRONAUTS TO TEST THE
TECHNOLOGIES THAT DRIVE
EXPLORATION.
IT ALSO ALLOWS NASA TO CONTINUE
OUR STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF LONG
DURATIONS IN SPACE ON THE HUMAN
BODY.
WHILE ALLOWING OUR ASTRONAUTS TO
CONTINUE TO WORK OFF THE EARTH
FOR THE BENEFIT OF EARTH.
MEANWHILE, THE PRESIDENT CALLED
FOR DEEPER COLLABORATION WITH
ENTREPRENEURS AND OTHER INDUSTRY
PARTNERS ON DEVELOPING THE NEW
TECHNOLOGIES THAT THE MAMMOTH
UNDERTAKING LIKE MARS REQUIRES.
THESE TECHNOLOGIES HAVE RESULTED
IN MANY PLANNED AND UNEXPECTED
CAPABILITIES AND PRODUCTS.
LIKE IMPROVED ARTIFICIAL LIMBS,
MEMORY FOAM, SOLAR PANELS AND SO
MANY OTHER TECHNOLOGIES
ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED FOR THE
SPACE PROGRAM THAT ALSO HAVE
INVALUABLE EARTHLY BENEFITS.
OF COURSE, COLLABORATIONS SUCH
AS THESE ARE ALSO VALUABLE
BECAUSE THEY CREATE JOBS AND
THEY FUEL OUR ECONOMY.
FIVE YEARS AFTER THE PRESIDENT
CHALLENGED NASA TO SEND
ASTRONAUTS TO MARS IN THE
2030s, WE ARE CLOSER TO
SENDING HUMAN BEINGS TO THE RED
PLANET THAN EVER BEFORE IN HUMAN
HISTORY.
MEANWHILE, A NEW CONSENSUS IS
EMERGING IN THE SCIENTIFIC AND
POLICY COMMUNITIES AROUND NASA'S
ROAD MAP AND TIMETABLE FOR
MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
IN 2010 AT THE KENNEDY SPACE
CENTER, THE PRESIDENT STOOD IN
FRONT OF A TEST MODEL OF THE
ORION SPACE CRAFT, THE
TECHNOLOGICAL FOUNDATION FOR
FUTURE DEEP-SPACE MISSIONS.
AND HE PLEDGED IT WOULD BE READY
FOR FLIGHT.
TODAY, ORION HAS NOW FLOWN
FARTHER INTO SPACE THAN ANY
SPACE CRAFT BUILT FOR HUMAN
PASSENGERS HAS FLOWN IN MORE
THAN FOUR DECADES.
HAVING COMPLETED ITS HIGHLY
SUCCESSFUL MAIDEN VOYAGE IN
DECEMBER, ON DECEMBER 5 LAST
YEAR.
THE SPACE-LAUNCH SYSTEM ROCKET
THAT WILL SOME DAY PROPEL
AMERICAN ASTRONAUTS TO DEEP
SPACE, HAS MOVED FROM CONCEPT TO
DEVELOPMENT.
AND IT'S HITTING CRITICAL
MILESTONES IN ITS CONSTRUCTION
AND ASSEMBLY.
MEANWHILE, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD
WITH AN ASTEROID REDIRECT
MISSION THAT WILL TEST NEW
CAPABILITIES LIKE ADVANCE
PROPULSION SYSTEMS THAT WILL BE
NEEDED FOR FUTURE HUMAN
EXPEDITIONS TO MARS.
AFTER PLEDGING TO EXTEND THE
LIFE OF THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION FOR FIVE YEARS, THE
PRESIDENT HAS NOW EXTENDED IT
FOR 10.
TO AT LEAST 2024.
AMERICAN ASTRONAUT SCOTT KELLY
IS HALFWAY THROUGH HIS YEAR IN
SPACE AND WILL BE ABLE TO STUDY
THE EFFECTS OF SUCH
LONG-DURATION MISSIONS AND TO
BENCH MARK THEM WITH HIS TWIN
BROTHER, MARK, WHO IS BACK HERE
HOME ON EARTH.
AND, IN CASE YOU DON'T FOLLOW US
-- SCOTT IS CURRENTLY OUTSIDE
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
CONDUCTING AN E.V.A. TO BRING IT
UP TO SPEED AND MODERNIZE IT.
WE RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT OUR
MARS RECOGNIZANCE ORBITER
CONFIRMED THE EXISTENCE OF
FLOWING WATER ON MARS.
AND WE ARE ON PACE TO SEND A NEW
ROVER TO THE RED PLANET IN 2020
THAT WILL HELP US PREPARE FOR
HUMAN ARRIVAL.
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, IT WILL
CACHE A SAMPLE FOR LATER RETURN
TO EARTH.
MEANWHILE, OUR AMERICAN INDUSTRY
PARTNERS ARE NOW LAUNCHING CARGO
MISSIONS TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION AND THEY ARE DOING
IT FROM U.S. SOIL.
TO ACCOMPLISH THE PRESIDENT'S
GOAL OF RETURNING THE LAUNCHES
OF AMERICAN ASTRONAUTS TO
AMERICAN SOIL, WE HAVE SELECTED
OUR COMMERCIAL PARTNERS, BOEING
AND SPACE-X, TO PRODUCE THEIR
RESPECTIVE CREW VEHICLES.
THE C.S.T.-100 STAR LINER AND
THE CREW DRAGON.
WE RECENTLY SELECTED OUR
COMMERCIAL CREW ASTRONAUTS.
THE FIRST FOUR ASTRONAUTS TO
TRAIN TO FLY TO SPACE ON
COMMERCIAL CARRIERS.
ROBERT BOB BENKIN, SONITA SONY
WILLIAMS, ERIC BOWE AND DOUGLAS
DOUG HURLEY.
ALL EXPERIENCED TEST PILOTS AND
SHUTTLE ASTRONAUTS.
IN FACT, THEY MET WITH PRESIDENT
OBAMA AT THE WHITE HOUSE JUST
LAST WEEK.
WHAT WE HAVEN'T YET BEEN ABLE TO
DO IS SECURE ALL THE NECESSARY
FUNDING TO COMPLETE THE
COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM.
HAD WE DONE SO WHEN THE
PRESIDENT ORIGINALLY ASKED, WE
WOULD LIKELY BE PREPARING THIS
YEAR FOR THOSE FIRST COMMERCIAL
LAUNCHES FROM CAPE CANAVERAL.
AS THINGS STAND, WE WILL
CONTINUE TO BE IN A BIT OF A
HOLDING PATTERN UNTIL WE GET THE
ADDITIONAL FUNDING THE PRESIDENT
HAS BEEN REQUESTING.
BUT, I AM THE ETERNAL OPTIMIST.
AND, LIKE RUDY, I BELIEVE WE
WILL COME TO TERMS WITH CONGRESS
VERY SOON.
MAYBE IT'S JUST ME BUT I BELIEVE
THAT THE GREATEST COUNTRY ON
EARTH SHOULDN'T BE SOLELY
RELIANT ON OTHER COUNTRIES TO
GET OUR OWN ASTRONAUTS TO SPACE.
I SHOULD NOTE THAT THERE ARE 350
COMPANIES WORKING ACROSS 35
STATES TOWARD THE GOAL OF
BRINGING THESE LAUNCHES HOME.
SO, THERE'S A LOT AT STAKE, NOT
ONLY IN TERMS OF DISCOVERY AND
EXPLORATION, BUT ALSO IN TERMS
OF JOB CREATION, GROWTH, AND
OPPORTUNITY.
ACROSS THE BOARD, OUR COUNTRY'S
NEW TECHNOLOGY ECONOMY IS
DRIVING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND,
NASA'S WORK IS PROVIDING
SIGNIFICANT FUEL FOR THAT
ENGINE.
WE ARE EXPLORING DEEP SPACE, BUT
WE ARE ANCHORED RIGHT HERE ON
EARTH WHERE WE ARE CREATING JOBS
AND FUELING INNOVATION AND
GROWTH.
RECOGNIZING THAT WITHOUT
AMERICAN INGENUITY AND
INNOVATION, WE WOULD BE RIGHT
THERE IN THALES' WELL.
ASIDE FROM ALL THESE MEASURES OF
ECONOMIC, SCIENTIFIC AND
TECHNICAL PROGRESS, WE HAVE ALSO
BEEN ABLE TO START TO DO
SOMETHING ELSE AND THAT'S -- TO
BREAK THROUGH TO THE PUBLIC'S
CONSCIOUSNESS.
YOU PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN THAT
AND, FOR YOUR WORK TODAY, WE ARE
INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL.
WHETHER IT'S THE PUBLICITY AND
THE EXCITEMENT THAT SURROUNDED
THE NEW HORIZON'S ENCOUNTER WITH
PLUTO THIS PAST SUMMER AND THE
PLUTO MANIA THAT FOLLOWED, OUR
RECENT CONFIRMATION OF FLOWING
WATER ON MARS OR THE NEW MARS
ENTHUSIASTS WHO FLOCKED TO THE
MOVIES, LIKE ME, TO SEE THE
MARTIAN.
THERE'S A TANGIBLE SENSE I GETS
A I TRAVEL AND MEET FOLKS THAT
NASA IS IN VOGUE RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S A COOLNESS FACTOR.
AND, WHEN YOU ARE SEEKING TO
CAPTURE THE PUBLIC'S HEARTS,
MINDS AND, ABOVE ALL,
IMAGINATION, THOSE THINGS REALLY
MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
NOW, WITH ALL THIS SAID, SOME OF
YOU -- AND I ACTUALLY HOPE IT'S
NOT TOO MANY OF YOU, JUST A FEW
OF YOU, BUT SOME OF YOU -- MIGHT
BE ASKING, OK, BUT -- WHY DOES
ALL THIS MATTER?
WHY GO TO MARS?
SO -- THIS BRINGS ME TO MY
OPPORTUNITY TO DO A LITTLE
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION.
THIS IS THE AUDIENCE
PARTICIPATION PART OF MY
PROGRAM.
WHEN I POINT TO YOU THE AUDIENCE
I WANT YOU TO REPEAT AFTER ME
MARS MATTERS.
OK?
WHEN I POINT TO YOU, JUST
REPEAT, IN WHATEVER VOICE YOU
WANT, MARS MATTERS.
SO GET THE GRUMPY LOOKS OFF SOME
OF YOUR FACES, SMILE AND SAY
MARS MATTERS.
YOU READY?
PRACTICE.
>> MARS MATTERS.
>> ALL RIGHT! BECAUSE ITS
FORMULATION AND EVOLUTION ARE
COMPARABLE TO EARTH -- MARS
MATTERS.
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT AT ONE TIME
IT HAD CONDITIONS SUITABLE FOR
LIFE --
>> MARS MATTERS.
>> BECAUSE WHAT WE LEARN ABOUT
THE RED PLANET MAY TELL US MORE
ABOUT OUR OWN HOME PLANET'S
HISTORY AND FUTURE, AND BECAUSE
IT MIGHT JUST HELP US UNRAVEL
THE AGE-OLD MYSTERY ABOUT
WHETHER LIFE EXISTS BEYOND EARTH
--
>> MARS MATTERS.
>> Y'ALL ARE GOOD.
I NEED TO TAKE YOU BACK WITH ME.
WHEN I THINK THE WORLD IN WHICH
MY GRANDDAUGHTERS WILL BE
RAISING THEIR OWN CHILDREN, I
SEE A WORLD WHERE THEIR KIDS
VIEW HUMAN BEINGS LIVING AND
WORKING ON MARS, AS A FACT OF
LIFE.
MUCH AS THEY VIEW LIVING AND
WORKING ON THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION TODAY.
A FUTURE WHERE NASA AND ITS
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS ARE USING
MARS AS A STEPPING STONE TO THE
REST OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
I SEE A FUTURE WHERE A ROBUST
PRIVATE SPACE INDUSTRY IS
LAUNCHING HUMAN BEINGS, CARGO,
AND SATELLITES OF ALL SIZES, TO
SPACE AT A SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER
PRICE POINT.
THANKS TO THE WORK WE ARE DOING
TODAY TO MAKE LAUNCHES MORE
AFFORDABLE, AND TO ADVANCE
EMERGING SMALL SATELLITE
TECHNOLOGIES LIKE QUB SATES AND
NANO SATES, WHERE COMPANIES
UTILIZE TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOPED
FOR SPACE TRAVEL TO DEVELOP A
PRODUCT THAT IMPROVES OUR
QUALITY OF LIFE RIGHT HERE ON
EARTH.
A FUTURE WHERE FLYING FROM
WASHINGTON TO LOS ANGELES IS A
BETTER EXPERIENCE BOTH FOR
PEOPLE IN THE PLANE, AND ON THE
GROUND.
BECAUSE, WE HAVE SUCCEEDED IN
REIMAGINING AIR TRAFFIC
MANAGEMENT, AND WE HAVE MADE
FLIGHT CLEANER, GREENER, SAFER,
AND QUIETER.
AND, BY FLIGHT, I MEAN BOTH
AIRPLANES AND HELICOPTERS.
I SEE A FUTURE WHERE OUR
GRANDCHILDREN'S CHILDREN ARE
DRINKING CLEANER WATER.
BREATHING CLEANER AIR.
AND MAKING USE OF CLEANER
ENERGY.
NOT ONLY BECAUSE NASA HAS HELPED
US BETTER UNDERSTAND CLIMATE
CHANGE, BUT BECAUSE OF THE WORK
OUR SCIENTISTS ARE DOING IN
AREAS LIKE GREEN AVIATION, AND
WATER PURIFICATION.
I SEE A FUTURE WHERE FEWER
AMERICANS ARE LOSING A SISTER OR
BROTHER OR A SON BECAUSE THE
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES WE PERFECT
TO PROTECT OUR ASTRONAUTS FROM
EXPOSURE TO RADIATION ON A
LONG-DURATION SPACE FLIGHT HELP
REVOLUTIONIZE MEDICINE IN THE
MEDICAL FIELD.
OR, BECAUSE THE TECHNOLOGIES WE
HAVE DEVELOPED TO DETECT SIGNS
OF LIFE ON OTHER PLANETS
CONTINUE TO HELP EMERGENCY
WORKERS LISTEN FOR BEATING
HEARTS IN THE RUBBLE AFTER A
DISASTER.
AS WAS DONE WITH THE FINDER
DEVICE AFTER THIS PAST SUMMER'S
CATASTROPHIC EARTHQUAKE IN
NEPAL.
I SEE A WORLD WHERE GIRLS AND
YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE MORE
EXCITED ABOUT PURSUING EDUCATION
IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
ENGINEERING, THE ARTS, AND MATH.
A WORLD WHERE UNLIKE TODAY,
THERE WILL NO LONGER BE ANY
STATES IN THE UNION WHERE NO
WOMAN TAKES THE ADVANCED
PLACEMENT A.P. COMPUTER SCIENCE
EXAM AS WE HAVE TODAY.
THANKS IN PART TO NASA'S WORK TO
PROMOTE STEM EDUCATION AND
CAREERS.
I SEE A FUTURE WHERE PEOPLE IN
EVEN THE MOST REMOTE CORNERS OF
OUR WORLD HAVE ACCESS TO WIFI.
AS DO ASTRONAUTS LIVING AND
WORKING IN SPACE TODAY.
I SEE A WORLD WHERE THE STUNNING
IMAGES BEING SENT HOME TO US
FROM THE JAMES WEBB SPACE
TELESCOPE TEACH MY
GRANDDAUGHTERS AND THEIR KIDS
MORE ABOUT OUR UNIVERSE THAN HAS
EVER BEEN KNOWN BEFORE OR
CONCEPTUALIZED.
I SEE A FUTURE WHERE MAYBE, JUST
MAYBE, HUMANITY FINDS THE ANSWER
TO THE AGE-OLD QUESTION, A
QUESTION THAT PTHALES MUST HAVE
THOUGHT TO HIMSELF AS HE STAIRED
UP AT THE NIGHT SKY, OF WHETHER
WE ARE ALONE IN THE UNIVERSE.
WHILE NONE OF US CAN KNOW FOR
SURE WHAT THE FUTURE HAS IN
STORE, THERE IS ONE THING THAT
WE CAN SAY WITH A GOOD DEGREE OF
CERTAINTY.
NONE OF THESE THINGS CAN HAPPEN
ON THEIR OWN.
THEY WILL REQUIRE FUTURE LEADERS
TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THE
DECISIONS THAT POINT US IN THIS
DIRECTION.
FUTURE PRESIDENTS, FUTURE
ADMINISTRATORS, AND FUTURE
CITIZENS LIKE YOU.
PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS SET US ON A
VISIONARY COURSE.
IT'S MY SINCERE HOPE THAT FUTURE
LEADERS FROM ALL SIDES OF THE
POLITICAL SPECTRUM SEE IT
THROUGH.
BECAUSE, I TRULY BELIEVE THE
SORT OF FUTURE I LAID OUT IS
WELL WITHIN OUR GRASP.
RIGHT NOW, THE ASTRONAUT WHO
WILL TAKE THE FIRST HUMAN STEPS
ON MARS AND THE SCIENTISTS WHO
WILL DISCOVER THE NEXT GREAT
BREAKTHROUGH THAT MAKES THAT
STEP POSSIBLE, MIGHT VERY WELL
BE SITTING IN A CLASSROOM RIGHT
HERE IN WASHINGTON D.C.
EVERY CHOICE THAT SHE OR HE
MAKES TO SPEND THAT EXTRA HALF
HOUR IN THE LIBRARY OR TO SIGN
UP FOR THAT EXTRA ELECTIVE, OR
FRANKLY, TO PICK UP A GUITAR OR
A PAINT BRUSH FOR THE VERY FIRST
TIME, ALL THESE CHOICES BRING US
CLOSER TO THE FUTURE THAT WE ALL
DREAM IT IS AND CAN BE POSSIBLE.
YOU KNOW, I HAD A GOOD FRIEND
WHO GAVE HER LIFE TO THE CAUSE
OF HUMAN EXPLORATION.
HER NAME WAS CHRISTA MCAULLIFE,
AND SHE ONCE SAID AND I
APPRECIATE THIS AS THE SON OF
TEACHERS, THAT TEACHING ALLOWED
HER TO TOUCH THE FUTURE.
I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE AT A
TEACHABLE MOMENT WHEN IT COMES
TO THE FUTURE OF EXPLORATION.
THE QUESTION IS -- WHAT ARE
REGOING TO DO WITH IT?
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH IT?
ARE WE GOING TO SEIZE THIS
MOMENT AND USE IT TO TOUCH THE
FUTURE?
I HOPE THE ANSWER IS YES.
AND, I WANT TO THANK EVERY ONE
AT THE CENTER FOR AMERICAN
PROGRESS FOR DOING YOUR PART TO
MAKE US HELP, TO HELP US TO
SEIZE THE MOMENT AND MAKE THE
ANSWER -- YES.
I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR
DISCUSSION AND THANK YOU SO VERY
MUCH AGAIN FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE
WITH YOU TODAY.
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
