Space & Astronomy/Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso/pc/text/station/ssf_dg.txt

Text File | 1993-06-20 | 5KB | 87 lines

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From: [e-mail] (John P. Leuer)
Subject: SSF Redesign Statement By Daniel Goldin
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Statement by Daniel S. Goldin
NASA Administrator
on space station redesign 6/17/93

        America took another important step forward on the space frontier
today with the decision by President Clinton to continue the space station
project.

We at NASA are gratified by the faith the President has placed in us to
accomplish this challenging task, and inspired by his vision for our
country's future in space.

        Only a few months ago the President charged NASA with a task many
called impossible.  But NASA met the challenge.  People representing every
part of the agency worked long hours and at great personal sacrifice, and in
so doing achieved the impossible.  I want all Americans to be aware of the
extraordinary effort put in by all of NASA'S employees.  I could not be prouder
of any group of individuals than I am of the NASA team, our country is well
served by these men and women

        We remain committed to ensuring America's competitiveness in
science and technology now and into the 21st Century.  And this project will
help us meet that need.  The space station will be a knowledge engine on the
high frontier, returning dividends to Americans for years to come.

        But there are larger issues at stake, and we are pleased that the
debate this program is beginning to encompass the landscape we know as the
future.  In the wake of the Cold War, it is important for this nation to
achieve a consensus on future goals for the space program.  It is important for
us to ask ourselves what kind of a space program we want, what kinds of goals
we should pursue, and what kind of legacy we want to hand down to our children.

        With the President's leadership and support, I believe we have the
opportunity to help define a new era of international peace and cooperation
through our scientific partnerships in space.  The 20th Century has been
one long panorama of war and conflict.  Now the world is changing, and with
luck and with vision we may be able to replace a century of war with a new
century of peace and understanding.  Space cannot be left out of that equation,
for space encompasses the essential challenges we will face in this new age.

        Over the next few months, as we transition the existing space
station program structure to support the redesign option selected by the
President, we will pay close attention to NASA's most precious resource -- its
people, employees and contractors alike.  We will do our utmost to minimize
disruption during the process of restructuring the program.

        In a larger context, all of us at NASA must rededicate ourselves to
continue the internal improvements we have begun.  Together, we have made great
strides in the last year.  We have begun to fundamentally change NASA for the
better.  But there is much more to do, and this is the time to do it.

        It is an honor that NASA has been asked to participate in Vice
President Gore's National Performance Review.  We must use this opportunity to
set our course and make the space agency a model for effective government
research and development.

        Only by committing ourselves to these goals can we live up to the
faith trust that President Clinton has placed in us.  As responsible stewards
for the nation's space program, we can do no less.  I look forward to working
with the entire NASA family on these exciting goals during the challenging times
ahead.

- end -

______________________________________________________________________________
John P. Leuer                     | e-mail:     [e-mail]
McDonnell Douglas Aerospace-West  | unix talk:  [e-mail]
Space Station Division            | Bus. Phone: [phone] ext 60575
5301 Bolsa Ave, MS 15-1           |      FAX:   [phone]
Huntington Beach, CA  92647       |
______________________________________________________________________________