Senator McCain has promised more funding for NASA and expressed support for the manned space program (Wall Street Journal - McCain Promises $2 Billion to Help NASA):
Sen. John McCain came to the space coast today and promised $2 billion to help NASA transition from the space shuttle to a new space vehicle. “I’ve always been a strong supporter of manned space flight and NASA,” he said in a community that is home to many in the field. “If I’m elected president I won’t cut NASA funds like Sen. Obama.” McCain aides noted that Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee, had promised to pay for education programs by delaying the Constellation space program, which is meant to fill the gap to the next space vehicle, only to backtrack later. “My friends, we just saw the Chinese. We saw them in space,” McCain told an afternoon rally of about 2,000 people. “We’ve got competition. We’ve got to stay ahead. We will be the first nation to Mars.”
This report notes that McCain didn't mention how this would work with the across-the-board funding freeze he has also proposed. Still, the report is very encouraging, as is their evenhanded acknowledgment that Obama has promised $2 billion for the Constellation program. Could it be that both candidates will be kind to NASA?
I think both candidates will have to. The thought of China surpassing the US will infuriate the public, who is already upset about most of our products being made in China (resulting in lost jobs).
If the US is seen as a waning space power, you are going to see more countries shift towards China--both technologically and politically--which the US can not afford.
Posted by: Darnell Clayton | October 23, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Darnell, thanks for your comment. I hope you're right, that both candidates will find it necessary to support NASA and the space program, no matter what budget cuts of spending freezes they may have to enact.
Posted by: Joel | October 27, 2008 at 03:50 PM