Ferris Valyn's Obama Space blog

Space at Netroots Nation

Ferris Valyn — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:46:04 EDT

Space policy made a pretty decent splash at Netroots Nation. We had an excellent panel on space policy, and an excellent platform meeting. For those of you who don't remember, we had Andrew Hoppin moderating, and Chris Bowers, Lori Garver, Patricia Grace Smith, and George Whitesides all speaking. You can about the panelists here.

Join me over the fold to read, and see it

Upcoming events about space and space policy

Ferris Valyn — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:05:07 EDT

Hey Everyone,

I figured now would be a good time to remind everyone (again) about some upcoming space events, that would be worth going to. We have a couple of major events this week, as well as future events upcoming. I promise reports to any and all I attend, and I suggest that you attend as well

Redstate, Senator Obama, space policy, and our group

Ferris Valyn — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:21:44 EDT

Generally, when I do a diary about space, its either about current events, proposing good space policy, or remarking on the fact that Senator Obama hasn't fully developed a space policy. But today's is a little different - its actually not about space, so much as reaction to 1 line, I wrote, about Senator Obama. What was the line, and who reacted? Well, come over to the flip side, and you can find out (although you can probably guess who was doing the reacting

Senator Obama, bring back the National Space Council

Ferris Valyn — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:56:43 EDT

This is being re-posted from my diaries over at dailykos

In many of my past diaries, I commented on Senator Obama, and his lack of a space policy, and the concern that he is anti human spaceflight. These diaries have ranged from long explanations, to something that was probably close to a rant.

However, today I want to talk about something that, Senator Obama can do, which doesn't require massive new spending, but would show an openness to the idea of manned spaceflight, and would fit well within his comments and concerns about having a coherent space policy. Senator Obama, please bring back the National Space Council.

Politics at the International Space Development Conference, 2008

Ferris Valyn — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:25:33 EDT

Recently, I attended the 2008 International Space Development Conference (ISDC). While there, a number of space issues were discussed, espcially concerning policy. I felt everyone here could benefit from reading about it. Before I go into what happened, with regard to the politics, let me give a short background about ISDC. ISDC is put on every year, for 26 years, by the National Space Society. Its purpose is to promote space development. It brings together scientists, engineers, policy makers, businessmen, even artists and philosophers, to talk about and discuss space development.

With that firmly established, join me on the other side, to talk about some of the political discussions that happened there, this year.

Of Obama, Richardson, and Space

Ferris Valyn — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 13:25:19 EDT

This week, Governor Bill Richardson endorsed Senator Barack Obama. Governor Richardson was clearly inspired by Obama's speech. Now, the question is, will he be able to provide counsel to Senator Obama (and to an Obama administration, should that happen). And in particular, my hope is that Richardson will be able to provide counsel to Senator Obama on the issue of space policy. Please join me over the fold

Essays to Senator Obama - The Space Economy Pt3

Ferris Valyn — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 22:22:56 EDT

Dear Senator Obama,

It is clear, through your statements, that you have questions about what role human spaceflight can and does play on our society. You have said that you want to have a full evaluation, and have a clear understanding about how and where we can have the most impact in our spending on space.

Part of the problem is how we've interacted with space, and how we view it. For a long time, space has been viewed as being beyond the reach of the average person, and that it can only provide us more scientific knowledge.

However, there is growing evidence that this is about to change, and that properly harnessed, space can have an incredibly positive effect on society - it can help with our economy, and it can help provide us with clean, cheap energy.

It is for this reason I have written these essays - so you can understand how human spaceflight can have a beneficial impact on society, why the time is now that it can have such a beneficial impact, and how best to capitalize on this.

In this first essay, I talk about the economy, and orbital space businesses.

Essays to Senator Obama - The Space Economy Pt2

Ferris Valyn — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 21:39:08 EST

Dear Senator Obama,

It is clear, through your statements, that you have questions about what role human spaceflight can and does play on our society. You have said that you want to have a full evaluation, and have a clear understanding about how and where we can have the most impact in our spending on space.

Part of the problem is how we've interacted with space, and how we view it. For a long time, space has been viewed as being beyond the reach of the average person, and that it can only provide us more scientific knowledge.

However, there is growing evidence that this is about to change, and that properly harnessed, space can have an incredibly positive effect on society - it can help with our economy, and it can help provide us with clean, cheap energy.

It is for this reason I have written these essays - so you can understand how human spaceflight can have a beneficial impact on society, why the time is now that it can have such a beneficial impact, and how best to capitalize on this.

In this second essay, I talk about the economy, and suborbital space businesses.

Essays to Senator Obama - The Space Economy Pt1

Ferris Valyn — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 21:05:17 EST

Obama, the Houston Chronicle, and Space

Ferris Valyn — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:57:24 EST

Cross posted at dailykos

As you probably know, Senator Obama was endorsed by the Houston Chronicle. However, in their endorsement, the Chronicle responded to a statement from Obama, and added a caveat to their endorsement. What was the comment, and what was the subsequent caveat? Come over the fold, and see

Obama's space policy - Its out, but its not good

Ferris Valyn — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 17:30:06 EST

Cross-posted at Dailykos

So, those who were/are my regular readers (as well as some Obama supporters who aren't regular readers) know that I have been pushing for Senator Obama to have a space policy, after he released his educational plan around Thanksgiving. Well, in the last few weeks, the Obama campaign has begun to rectify that. First, on Jan 2nd, Lisa Ellman, Obama's policy director, issued the following statement,

Obama believes we should continue developing the next generation of space vehicles, and complete the international space station. While Obama would delay plans to return to moon and push on to mars, Obama would continue unmanned missions, and use NASA to monitor the forces and effects of climate change, support scientific research, and maintain surveillance to strengthen national security. Obama also believes we need to keep weapons out of space.

And on Thursday, this week, the Senator released a full policy statement. Come over the fold, and I'll give you my thoughts

Senator Obama, you need a space policy

Ferris Valyn — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 12:32:28 EST

Senator, recently you released your education proposal. To provide part of the money for funding it, you propose to delay the Constellation program. Now, Constellation has some serious flaws, as anyone who looks at it will tell you – Ares I is a complete waste, and there are serious issues with Orion, and Ares V as well. That said, if you are going to be pulling money from Nasa, and spaceflight in general, on a basic fairness, you need to tell us what your vision is for spaceflight in general (and Nasa in particular).

There is more on the other side