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Space Pioneers ; NASA Administrator Discusses American Exploration

Posted on: Friday, 10 December 2004, 18:00 CST

The question, posed by a child in the audience, was perhaps the most easily answered of all the queries thrown at NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe.

"Do you enjoy your job?"

The answer: "You betcha."

O'Keefe spoke about the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's plans and purpose on Tuesday evening at the University of Illinois at Springfield. More than 200 people attended the presentation, which was organized by the World Affairs Council of Central Illinois.

O'Keefe, who has been at NASA's helm for three years, argued the case for President Bush's ambition to expand America's space program. That includes completing the international space station and future manned missions to the moon and to Mars.

He emphasized that this effort in space exploration would be "a journey, not a race," unlike the first major push in space exploration when the United States was trying to prove its technological might against the Soviet Union.

America can benefit not only from technological advances made in pursuit of expanded missions, but also from an increased interest among young people in space exploration, O'Keefe argued. He noted that the United States trails other countries in the number of people pursuing education and opportunities in science, technology and engineering.

Also, the missions would tap into a human desire for exploration, he said.

"Great nations do great things," O'Keefe said.

His presentation touched on several of the hot topics during his tenure as NASA administrator, including the Columbia space shuttle disaster in 2003 and the controversy over the Hubble Space Telescope's future.

He also pointed to several recent successes. The agency's Web site has increased in popularity, and it's begun involving middle- school teachers from around the nation in an effort to spark an early interest among students in science, technology and engineering, he said.

And, Congress recently approved funding to expand space exploration.

O'Keefe said afterward he enjoyed speaking to the local audience. He said his visit was because he was asked by Ronald Thunman, a retired Navy admiral from Springfield whom O'Keefe had known from his previous work in Washington.

Thunman said O'Keefe's presentation was "superb" and fulfilled his desire to bring speakers to Springfield to address major issues directly to the people.

Source: State Journal Register

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