Democrats Like NASA Too

Captain Mark Kelly
Credit: NASA

One of the very best things about the NewSpace age is the fact that it is no longer necessary, or at times even useful, to listen patiently for a call to action from a State of the Union Address, or from a candidate or party platform to engage the United States in human space exploration once more. After all, on the few occasions one did, Bush 41 (Mars), Bush 43 (Moon), it didn’t really work out so well.

Then again, we are also not quite past the point where a change in policy could have an enormous effect on the pace and trajectory of events. Last week the Grand Old Party reminisced about the Good Old Days, seeming to ignore Billy Joel’s timeless observation that the good ole days weren’t always good (and tomorrow ain’t as bad as it seems.)

Now it’s the Democrat’s turn. They began with a whiff, omitting space from the platform entirely in an early draft.

Fortunately, you can now breathe a sigh of relief. A revised draft of the Democratic Party Platform includes the following nod to NASA and space:

“Pushing beyond the boundaries of what we know is core to who we are as Americans. Democrats are immensely proud of all that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has done—through its achievements in science, technology and exploration—to better understand our place in the universe and inspire and educate generations of young people in this country to pursue careers in science. Space exploration is a reminder that our capacity for curiosity is limitless, and may be matched only by our ability to achieve great things if we work together. Democrats believe in continuing the spirit of discovery that has animated NASA’s exploration of space over the last half century. We will strengthen support for NASA and work in partnership with the international scientific community to launch new missions to space.”

The DNC is not without its astronaut either. Mark Kelly is scheduled to speak on Wednesday night, alongside his wife, former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Mark’s brother, Scott Kelly, recently made history by spending 11 months aboard ISS as part of NASA’s “year in space” research mission.