Nick Lampson: “Today's message is about human space flight. America's human space flight program is adrift with no clear vision or…”

“Today's message is about human space flight. America's human space flight program is adrift with no clear vision or commitment to any goals after the completion of the International Space Station. Today I will be introducing the Space Exploration Act of 2002 to provide a vision and a concrete set of goals for the Nation's human space flight program after the International Space Station. This legislation sets forth specific incremental goals that are exciting, challenging and that build capabilities and infrastructure needed for an ultimate human mission to Mars. Once America gets started on achieving the first of the human space flight goals listed in the bill, we have gotten over the highest hurdle to success in the entire initiative. We will once again be moving outward beyond low Earth orbit, and in the process, we will revitalize our space program, energize our industrial and academic sectors, create new opportunities for international cooperation, and inspire our young people.”