Congress

Sensenbrenner and space

Back in the late 1990s, when he was chairman of the House Science Committee, Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) was a staunch critic of Russian involvement in the International Space Station, saying that their inclusion had failed to yield the promised cost savings and had delayed the overall effort. Sensenbrenner, who left the committee after the 2000 elections to chair the House Judiciary Committee, returned to the House Science and Technology Committee this year, and talks about some space policy issues in an interview in this week’s issue of The Space Review. Sensenbrenner still calls the Russian involvement in the ISS a “disaster”, but believes that there has to be some kind of international cooperation in NASA’s lunar exploration plans “because we can’t afford to do it alone”. Some other items:

  • China’s recent ASAT test is “a deal breaker” for any kind of future US-China cooperation on space or other science projects.
  • He was noncommittal on whether now was the right time for some kind of export control reform.
  • He said he didn’t know enough about NASA administrator Michael Griffin and overall agency leadership to determine if they’re making the best decisions for the future of the space agency.
  • Sensenbrenner is skeptical of NASA’s role as an inspiration for youth to study math and science, saying instead the real problem is “a disconnection in math and science in education” at an early age.

6 comments to Sensenbrenner and space

  • Disconnected

    “Sensenbrenner is skeptical of NASA’s role as an inspiration for youth to study math and science, saying instead the real problem is “a disconnection in math and science in education” at an early age.”

    The problem isn’t a “disconnection” between math and science, the problem is that critical thinking skills aren’t taught. Honest people can disagree with the issues of the day, but without the right mental skills being taught you have a generation of people who simply decide issues based on which side has the better sound bite or buzzword. The first exposure to any kind of formal critical thinking I ever got was not until the military (surprisingly enough!) and in some college courses. Maybe some elementary and middle schools teach these skills, but not enough by a longshot.

  • John Malkin

    He doesn’t know enough about Dr. Griffin? Isn’t that his fault? Doesn’t he have staff to bring him all the documents from the appointment hearings or 100 pages report on his eating habits? I think it’s a disaster when congressmen open their months before at least a little research but I don’t think that will change any time soon.

  • “a disconnection in math and science in education”

    A disconnection from what? The only thing disconnected from mathematics and science and the American public here is Sensenbrenner. I’m from Wisconsin. Among the intelligentsia of Wisconsin, Sensenbrenner is widely considered to be an scientific illiterate and an ignorant ass – a perfect representative of the general Wisconsin populace in the United States congress.

    I suspect most other states have there own unique problems with this administration and congress.

  • Gerd Bräuer

    Excuse my english, but here I must say my opion.
    Mr. Sensenbrenner said the russian participation is a “disaster”. Where would the ISS be if the russians are not participating in the programm?
    Who held ISS alive after the Columbia disaster?
    One can only hope that such “cold warriors” are retired. Such policans are strengthen the opinion against the U.S. strategy in Europe. Such arrogance is breattaking.

  • Adrasteia

    Where would the ISS be if the russians are not participating in the programm?

    If the Russians pulled in 1999, it would be without a Zvezda and four years late.

  • Adrasteia

    Sorry, Zarya. I’m too tired this morning.

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