Fighting for space leadership
Sophia Stewart
The Signal
Fighting words echoed the walls at the University of Houston-Clear Lake Feb. 9 when Bob Mitchell, president of Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, announced NASA’s stance on the upcoming budget.
In Mitchell’s “NASA & Clear Lake: The Impact of the Space Industry on the Area’s Economy” lecture, he told listeners that he plans to fight the layoffs for the upcoming 2011 budget.
“Prior to Feb. 1, 2010, we thought we would lose 750 to 1,000 jobs,” Mitchell explained. “After Feb. 1, those 750 to 1,000 jobs just went to worst-case-scenario – 7,000 jobs. That’s no exaggeration.”
In response to the newly announced budget, Terry Feagin, professor of computer science, explained the importance of NASA.
“People are educated about the universe through such programs of research as those supported by NASA,” Feagin said.
Mitchell advised the community to fight the layoffs using a specific message: “Encourage Americans to fight for America’s leadership in space.”
“Seven thousand jobs mean a lot to us,” Mitchell disclosed. “We can preach to the choir; there was no doubt in our mind that our senator and congressman were going to say, ‘We have to fight this thing.’ It wasn’t easy to convince people of this, but the message couldn’t be 7,000 jobs. We weren’t going to win this thing unless we got the entire United States involved. So our mission was to go out and say, ‘Listen, we’re going to lose leadership in space.’”
Mitchell made a trip to Washington D.C. and spoke to key legislators from different committees to attempt to convince them of that message.
“Are you willing to give up leadership in space?” Mitchell asked lecture attendees Feb. 9. “People don’t realize what all comes from NASA … Just about everything you do once you walk out these doors come from NASA. Fetal monitors … that came from NASA. Lasik surgery came from NASA. The tread on your tires came from NASA.”
Mitchell oversaw the creation of a group called goboldlynasa.net to get young engineers who were just finishing college involved.
The website asks people to write to their congressmen about the importance of human space flight to them and to America. They developed a group of more than 2,800 members who sent more than 61,000 letters to the White House and congressmen during a four-month period.
Julie Smith, coordinator of women’s & LGBT services at UHCL, requested Mitchell to come speak on campus.
“The theme of our series this year is headlines,” Smith said. “This is something very personal and relevant to a lot of people on our campus and in our community.”
UHCL President William Staples also attended the lecture.
“At the present time, since the federal budget is under continuing resolution status, it is difficult to tell what the future budget for NASA and, in turn, Johnson Space Center will be,” Staples explained. “During UHCL’s 37-year history, the university has assisted individuals with their life transitions, whether a community college transfer student seeking a bachelor’s degree or a student returning for a master’s degree to advance their career or to change careers. UHCL is committed to serving the varied educational needs of our community.”
Feb. 14 NASA announced in a press release a new budget for the fiscal year 2012, stating that the “$18.7 billion budget request for fiscal year 2012 that supports a reinvigorated path of innovation, technological development and scientific discovery. The budget supports all elements of NASA’s 2010 Authorization Act, which was passed by a strong bipartisan majority of Congress and signed into law by President Obama.”
Mitchell advises graduates of the UHCL to “continue to keep a passion for space.”
For more information about contacting representatives, Mitchell advises the community to go to goboldlynasa.org.
