NASA budget appeal this 2008

It's the season to petition congress with rhetoric to garner renewal and more funding for NASA projects. Below are five speeches given on May 7th, 2008 before congress's Senate Hearing on Reauthorizing the Vision for Space Exploration by Frederick Tarantino [CEO and president of Universities Space Research Association], Joan Johnson-Freese [Chair, National Security Decision Making Department of the Naval War College], Major General Robert Dickman [USAF-Retired] [Executive Director of The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)], Gene Kranz [Advisory Board Member for the Coalition for Space Exploration and former NASA Flight Director / Director Mission Operations], and George Whitesides [ executive director of the National Space Society]. It is about economics, environment, education, embracing private enterprises and the world space exploration community. I don't agree will all of the thoughts but it is a positive direction. Wouldn't it be great if the billions were appropriated and public referendums were set up to vote on proposed projects. That would certainly spark debate regarding unfeasible trips to Mars, tenability of the ISS, other smaller research projects--get the public involved.

Frederick Tarantino

Joan Johnson-Freese

Major General Robert Dickman

Gene Kranz

George Whitesides