Saturday is the 50th anniversary of one of the greatest triumphs in history: man’s first steps on the moon. Repeat those words to yourself — man walked on the moon — and let them sink in. It is an extraordinary and marvelous thing that America did way back in the summer of 1969.
This anniversary should awaken the nation to the need to get back to the moon and to venture beyond it out into the solar system. It is one of the federal government’s biggest mistakes that it has allowed 47 years to elapse since anyone left a footprint in the silvery dust of our nearest neighbor in space.
The rightness of returning to space in a serious and sustained way is not just because China, with its satellites and satellite weapons, is mastering the race to dominate near-Earth space. Beijing also has ambitions for manned expeditions to the moon, Mars, and beyond. Others are following in China’s footsteps. India will soon launch a rover to explore the moon’s south pole. Russia provides the sole means of putting humans onto the International Space Station.
America has good reason to rejoin this great race. Combining private sector innovation with NASA’s unparalleled experience, there is a path for us to win the space race of the 21st century, just as we won the race of the 20th century.
Is the effort worth it? Undeniably.
Space is the great unconquered realm of science and exploration. To borrow one of former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s famous comments, space is about both the known unknowns and the unknown unknowns. We know space hides new lessons about the origins and nature of our universe, but we can only wonder what else there is, albeit with an increasing basis for wondering. To ignore the opportunity for new learning is to ignore a sea of grand possibilities.
To ignore the space race is also to ignore American destiny, and to set aside the finest qualities of boldness, curiosity, wonder, and sheer can-do adventurousness that this nation has fostered more than any other in the past quarter of a millennium. For all of our national doubts and disagreements, the American frontier spirit is flourishing. Our scientists continue to dominate the most innovative industries.
That doesn’t mean the U.S. should approach space exploration with the rigidity of the past. Innovation is crucial. Empower NASA to get to space with greater efficiency and remove barriers to private sector exploration.
Whether it is Elon Musk’s SpaceX, Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, or other private space interests, the private sector has shown it can fill the gaps that government leaves. With new ways to launch into space at less cost, the private sector can sidestep government inefficiencies. More should be done to foster this work.
Make it easier for private interests to use government facilities and capabilities. Where NASA can’t provide a needed service, outsource to the private sector. Free NASA resources by allowing the private sector to conduct scientific research in space, including orbiting manned and unmanned space platforms.
NASA’s centralization of dedicated scientists in an environment of historic experience gives it an irreplaceable role in American space exploration. It should be focused on manned space exploration. While we commend the Trump administration for reversing the budget shortfalls NASA suffered during the Obama administration, too much of NASA’s money continues to go to research efforts that private interests could undertake.
Nothing can compare to the inspirational sight of an American setting foot on interstellar bodies while wearing an American flag on his or her arm. American astronauts are public servants, and NASA is a public institution. They serve a great people. That is why the Apollo landings remain so powerful in our national psyche: They speak to something we did, together.
While much can be done by the government, society at large bears a responsibility for the future too. According to a survey of 3,000 children asked what they want to be when they grow up and given five options, only 11% picked “astronaut.” The most popular answer was “YouTube star.” In contrast, a majority of Chinese children said they wanted to be astronauts. To change this, our culture must revere the heroes of space exploration, past and present. Without astronauts and scientists working to support them, or even a modicum of public support for space exploration, our efforts will fail.
America has a unique ability to match experience to private and public sector efforts backed by public support. But if we fail to unleash these grand potentials, it will allow China, India, or another nation to mark itself as the new leader of scientific and human greatness as they collect more and more landmark moments in space.
Instead, when mankind boldly goes where no one has gone before, let their spacesuits bear the stars and stripes. We have failed for too long to lead human progress into space. It would be not just unforgivable, but also a national tragedy, if we did not now pick up the mantle of leadership that we should never have let fall. The men and women leading the way to the stars should have stars (and stripes) on their uniforms.
