Senate Proceeding on Oct 7th, 2009 :: 8:09:15 to 8:16:10
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8:09:12 to 8:09:35( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: amendment at a later time. i suggest the abs quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. a senator: mr. president?

8:09:15 to 8:16:10( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Robert Bennett

8:09:36 to 8:09:57( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: the presiding officer: the a senator: i ask unanimous consent under the quorum call dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. difficult crossroads right now in determining the future of human space flight and i would like to talk about that. nasa's in the process of

8:09:58 to 8:10:20( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: deciding where to put its full support and funds. whether it should be behind the curren whether it should change course and go in another direction. the augustine commission has announced recommendations and de it up to nasa to make the

8:10:21 to 8:10:41( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: decision as to where it will go. i'm very concerned that nasa will agree with those recommendations that will relate to access to the international space station and will affec low-earth orbit in these difficult budgetary times. we've just finished the space

8:10:42 to 8:11:02( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: station, mr. president. so the time comes now to decide how to use it. -- to use it advantage much the space station was built with the shuttle program. and it's always been understood that the space shuttle will be retired next year.

8:11:03 to 8:11:27( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: after that happens, we will be relying upon russia to get our astronauts into space. now, the original plan was that once the shuttle was retired the next vehicle t get us into space would be the that's the pivot point where the decision has to be made.

8:11:28 to 8:11:49( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: shall we go ahead with aries1? i'm concerned that nasa may want to divert the precious resources from aries1 in commercial space industry can fill t void. that's disconcerting to me because we have a successful track record of the aries program, but a less than

8:11:50 to 8:12:10( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: desirable commercial space we've invested over four years and $6 billion in the and orion programs and it's on track. just last month we had a successful ground test of the new aries1 rocket in utah. later this month nasa will

8:12:11 to 8:12:31( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: conduct the first flight test, on track to deliver a safe, reliable rocket. but only be made if -- should only be made if alternatives are available to provide significant advantages in cost, schedule,

8:12:32 to 8:12:54( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: performance, an safety. the program that -- and safy. the program that is working should not be dropped unless those advantages are very clear. and as of now -- as of now there are no credible alternatives. to me it makes sense to stay committed to a program that 've already invested billions?? of

8:12:55 to 8:13:15( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: its signi right now the aries1 is the only credible solution we have for getting crew and cargo services into space once the shuttle is retired. the aries 1 system came out of the report that followed the columbia accident, recommending

8:13:16 to 8:13:37( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: that the shuttle be replaced with a launch system that would maximize crew's safety. aries will achieve those standards. the aries on an existing infrastructure that builds on our strengths. we already have the industrial base to go ahead with aries.

8:13:38 to 8:13:59( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: we don't have to invent anything new. we'vpaid for the research. why would we forgo use of successful research and of dollars in the promise of an untested method of getting into space? why would we take the gamble?

8:14:00 to 8:14:20( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: because if it turns out that the hope that the commercial could fill the void is wrong, we will have lost the industrial base that preserves our existing alternative to the commercial system. what wil nasa do then?

8:14:21 to 8:14:43( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: if that which they are -- they might out to fail and they have dismantled the program that we now know works. how much money would we save if we were confronted with that situation a few years down the road? we risk losing the industrial

8:14:44 to 8:15:05( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: base that is paramount to american competiveness. i know i'll be accused of being parochial because a good portion of that industrial base is in my home state in utah. but that doesn't lessen its significance or its competence. the aries program takes advantage of facilities and an

8:15:06 to 8:15:28( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: already trained workforce that has made the most reliable rockets in the world having flown and tested over 200 of we're already losing our manufacturing base -- we're already seeing reductions in our manufacturing base in this circumstance in uta

8:15:29 to 8:15:51( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: just this last week, 550 more people who would be critical to nasa in maintaining that base have lost their jobs, and if we abandon the aries program, we could lose thousands more. yes, i'm interested becse it's important to my state, but i am equally if not more interested becae i think it

8:15:52 to 8:16:10( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: to the nation not to take this kind of gamble, and i seriously urge the administration to take a look at the bird they have in their hand, the bird that has flown over 200 times successfully and not be too