Strategic National Asset--Ryan on Space Capability

"While campaigning near Florida's space coast, Ryan added additional elements to his stump speech: describing the U.S. space program as "a strategic national asset to America." But Obama, he said, has weakened the program. "We have presided over a dismantling of the space program over the last four years," he said of Obama's administration. "He has put the space program on a path where we are conceding our global position as the unequivocal leader in space. "Today, if we want to send an astronaut to the space station, we have to pay the Russians to take him there. China may one day looking down on us from the moon," he continued, eliciting boos from the audience. Earlier on Saturday, the Romney-Ryan campaign announced an outline of four space-related priorities they would pursue if elected. The GOP ticket says it would refocus NASA, providing it with "practical and sustainable missions" rather than increasing funding. The agency said it spent over $18.4 billion dollars in fiscal year 2011, though its 2013 funding request was slightly lower - about $17.8 billion. A key focus of the program would be contributing to national security efforts. "Space-based information capabilities are the central nervous system of the U.S. national security community," the document released by the campaign read. "If America is to remain strong as a nation, the national security space programs must remain strong and sustainable." If elected, Romney vowed to include the space program in international efforts and "ease trade limitations, as appropriate, on foreign sales of U.S. space goods." In his Saturday remarks, Ryan touted the space program's benefits to the broader economy. "The space program strengthens the entrepreneurial spirit and commercial competitiveness," he said. "They launch new industries and new technologies."" Go to comments Reply to this email to comment on this photo. See Comment This message was sent to bobbygmartin1938@gmail.com. If you don't want to receive these emails from Facebook in the future, please click: unsubscribe. Facebook, Inc. Attention: Department 415 P.O Box 10005 Palo Alto CA 94303