April 13, 2010 03:29 AM UTC

Bennet, Udall, Ritter: Keep Constellation Flying

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• by: Colorado Pols

As the Denver Post reports:

Colorado’s two U.S. senators today urged NASA Administrator Charles Bolden to re-evaluate the proposed cancellation of the Constellation program.

The plea by Sens. Mark Udall and Michael Bennet was delivered in a face-to-face meeting with Bolden in Washington as the National Space Symposium began here. The two also presented a letter stating their concerns for Bolden to give to President Barack Obama.

Udall described himself as “guardedly optimistic” by Bolden’s comments that he is committed to human spaceflight and to being flexible in working with Congress as the $19 billion NASA budget is debated.

Colorado could stand to lose several thousand jobs and an estimated $300 million in revenues annually if the Constellation program – which aims to return humans to the moon and beyond – is canceled as proposed by Obama in his fiscal year 2011 budget, according to a recent economic development study.

Lockheed Martin Space Systems based in south Jefferson County is the prime contractor for the Orion crew vehicle, a key Constellation component.

We’ve reprinted a similar statement from Gov. Bill Ritter today after the jump, where he says “[t]he Constellation Program, and specifically the Orion project, is a centerpiece of Colorado’s aerospace sector, creating nearly 1,000 jobs here since 2006 and inspiring a new generation of engineers, scientists, teachers and students.”

Seems like a pretty straightforward privatization vs. public investment argument (Obama’s plan replaces Constellation, at least in the near term, with commercial contracts), although we’ve met a surprising number of space science-affinitized liberals who would be fine with some privatization of manned spaceflight. We think part of their enthusiasm might be attraction to cool spaceship names private companies don’t have to run by the federal government–there’s one named “SpaceX Dragon,” if that doesn’t light your Buck Rogers fire nothing will. Notwithstanding, it would be easy to assign partisan roles to the competing sides, given which side traditionally favors the public sector versus privatization–except that Barack Obama (D) is the one who wants to privatize.

Back at the ranch, we are talking about lots of high-earning local jobs, so Udall, Bennet and Ritter have a natural interest in keeping Constellation flying. As for local Republicans, they can grouse about “waste” if there is a change of heart that preserves funding for the program, and bash Democrats for “costing Colorado jobs” (not twisting the president’s arm hard enough to oppose privatization, or something) if there isn’t–it’s kind of a win-win for them.

GOV. RITTER URGES OBAMA TO PRESERVE 1,000 AEROSPACE JOBS IN COLORADO

Gov. Bill Ritter today urged President Obama to reverse course and not cancel the Constellation space-travel program as currently proposed in NASA’s FY11 budget. The termination likely would mean the end of the Colorado-based Orion Project and the elimination of 1,000 jobs here in the Centennial State.

“The Constellation Program, and specifically the Orion project, is a centerpiece of Colorado’s aerospace sector, creating nearly 1,000 jobs here since 2006 and inspiring a new generation of engineers, scientists, teachers and students,” Gov. Ritter says in a letter to the White House. “To abruptly change direction like this will lead to significant dislocation and distress at a precarious time for the economies of our nation and our state.

“I urge you to partner with my administration and the many experts in Colorado to help chart a strategic path forward. Together, we can strengthen Colorado’s aerospace sector and meet the nation’s needs without sacrificing the jobs that are so crucial to Colorado’s economy and Colorado’s future.”

Gov. Ritter will stress the need to protect the Orion Project jobs in Colorado during a speech at the 26th National Space Symposium in Colorado Springs on Tuesday (12:30 p.m., Broadmoor Hotel, Main Ballroom, 1 Lake Ave.).

Here is the complete text of Gov. Ritter’s letter to President Obama:

April 12, 2010

President Barack Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW

Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President,

I write to express my concerns about the job losses that will occur if the Constellation Program is cancelled as proposed by your FY 2011 NASA budget. Through your leadership with federal economic policy, and thanks to aggressive state-led initiatives here in Colorado, we are making significant progress rebounding from the worst economic crisis in over 70 years.

Terminating the Constellation Program would be a major setback to our collective progress, resulting in devastating job losses impacting dozens of Colorado companies and thousands of Colorado families.

The Constellation Program, and specifically the Orion project, is a centerpiece of Colorado’s aerospace sector, creating nearly 1,000 jobs here since 2006 and inspiring a new generation of engineers, scientists, teachers and students. Colorado consistently ranks second or third in aerospace employment, with more than 300 companies, 170,000 employees and a cluster of military installations and research institutions.

This is an industry of the future that drives innovation and economic growth, provides well-paying jobs and contributes to our national security.

A comprehensive space exploration program is critical to national security and Colorado’s economy. Our aerospace sector is well-positioned to take advantage of increased NASA investments in robotics, energy-efficiency, satellite development and space exploration technologies. With initiatives like eSpace: the Center for Space Entrepreneurship, and the 8th Continent project, Colorado has created an entrepreneurial ecosystem that supports innovative solutions to unique space exploration challenges.

While I understand the need to regularly assess and prioritize our nation’s space exploration efforts, I urge you to consider the economic impact of the termination. Colorado companies and their employees have, in good faith, worked hard with NASA to implement its plans, missions and visions. To abruptly change direction like this will lead to significant dislocation and distress at a precarious time for the economies of our nation and our state.

I urge you to partner with my administration and the many experts in Colorado to help chart a strategic path forward. Together, we can strengthen Colorado’s aerospace sector and meet the nation’s needs without sacrificing the jobs that are so crucial to Colorado’s economy and Colorado’s future.

Sincerely,

Bill Ritter, Jr.

Governor of Colorado