“Planet Mars” – HON. John Cooksey (Extensions of Remarks – March 13, 2002)
HON. JOHN COOKSEYOF LOUISIANA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Wednesday, March 13, 2002
- Mr. COOKSEY. Mr. Speaker, We are better prepared to go to the planet Mars today than to the Moon in 1961. The reasons to go are compelling and the goal is within reach.
- Like the Moon Race, exploring Mars will have benefits here on Earth, revitalizing our economy and society like no other challenge. America’s wealth today testifies to space exploration’s past return-on-investment in communications, computers, and advanced materials. Mars exploration will bring to all of us a positive and dynamic vision of the future–a goal to achieve, a dream to make real.
- As the planet most like Earth, Mars should be the next focus of space exploration. We have sent many robots to explore Mars for us, but their abilities are limited. It’s time to go there ourselves.
- We have the means to explore and settle Mars in the near-term on only a fraction of NASA’s current budget, but work is needed to refine key technologies like space suits and life support systems. The targeted investment of a modest 1% of NASA’s annual budget can achieve these advances. Adequate funds would remain for NASA’s other priorities today, while we prepare for the day in the very near future when Americans again walk on another world.
- The time to plan our next giant leap is now. It’s our future, let’s make it happen.
