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Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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>ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
>Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
>*****************************************************************************
>
>Martin
>
>Wow, I am a little disappointed.

Sorry about your disappointment.  Maybe my political bias came
through but I am really objecting to the lack of a fiscal plan for
the time-line presented. I found the stories of the astronauts
riveting (read The Right Stuff) and remember watching the tv cast
from the moon awe struck.

I had hoped I made clear that I really am not proposing a political
discussion here but unfortunately politics is involved in any
budgetary decisions made in Washington. Some I agree with other I
don't on many different levels. I hope I am disagreeing based on
allocation of resources for the project outlined. I agree that maned
space travel is more riveting but look at the fantastic science that
has come from probes? And what are the science goals for the
presidents plan? Sure to be worked out but those are the details that
are so important.  I know there are folks who would volunteer for
these trips in a heart beat but I am not sure we are ready yet. And I
am not sure the quick time-line will get us there.

Perhaps you have more perspective than I do on the engineering and
costs of this project.

Martin

>
>Let me first admit my bias. I will certainly not vote for President
>Bush in the upcoming election and I do have an aerospace engineering
>degree.
>
>Now, I do have to say that my love for science, the degree I got, all
>of which through a very windy twisty road led to my work in science
>centers was in large part inspired by early memories of watching things
>such as the landing on the moon, the flight of space shuttle Enterprise
>(when it was just being tested on the top of a jet liner) and although
>campy the escapades of Captain Kirk and Mr Spock.
>
>I believe it is very important for our society to have stories and
>efforts of exploration and discovery, some on a large scale. Ones that
>excite the imagination. (Hmm, similar to exhibition design) I do not
>believe that this can only be done by robots. Manned (pardon the word)
>exploration of space is not only a effort of science it is an effort of
>emotion.
>
>Yes, the costs are not small and it must be done in a thoughtful and
>responsible way, but I think it is what we need to do.
>
>Additionally if I had to impact our fiscal concerns for the federal
>budget by  choosing to fund this effort or adding to the existing or
>another proposed tax cut to the upper reaches of the tax brackets, or
>creating more tax incentives for oil and natural gas exploration then
>the decisions is even easier.
>
>Wayne
>
>Wayne J LaBar
>Vice President, Exhibitions and Theaters
>Liberty Science Center
>251 Phillip Street
>Liberty State Park
>Jersey City, NJ 07305
>
>voice: 201.451.0006 x-347
>fax: 201.451.7046
>
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--
Martin Weiss, PhD
Director of Science
New York Hall of Science
47-01 111 th Street
Flushing Meadows, New York 11368
718 699 0005 x 356

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