Citizens have chance to tell nation's leaders they support future plans in space

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May. 12, 2004) — The Coalition for Space Exploration is offering an opportunity for citizens of the United States to tell their leaders they support the Vision for Space Exploration as NASA’s mission for the future. An official online petition is available on SPACE.com’s homepage at www.space.com by clicking on the `Are you GO for Mars?` button. The nation’s Vision for Space Exploration directs NASA to focus on returning the Space Shuttle to flight, completing assembly of the International Space Station, continuing important human factors research on the outpost, developing a replacement for the shuttle, sending robot probes out into the Solar System and returning humans to the Moon with the eventual goal of reaching for Mars and beyond. The space agency will do this on an affordable, “pay as you go,” step-by-step basis. “This vision presents us with a unique opportunity to focus our space program on a path of exploration that will provide benefits both practical and inspirational for decades to come,” said Jeff Carr, communications director for United Space Alliance, which is a founding member of the Coalition for Space Exploration. “Americans are predominantly supportive of the space program and they deserve to know that with the return to flight of the shuttle, the program will be on an exciting new course of exploration,” said Carr. “Our nation’s leaders must understand there is broad public support for this vision, and one way to make that happen is for people to make their voice be heard by signing the online petition.” The Coalition for Space Exploration is a collaborative effort whose mission is to ensure the United States will remain a leader in space, science and technology – key factors that will benefit the nation’s economy, gratify our need to explore and maintain our national security. Founding members include ATK Alliant Techsystems, The Boeing Co., Lockheed Martin and United Space Alliance. Other members include Aerojet, Analytical Graphics, Inc. (AGI), California Space Authority, Florida Space Authority, Hamilton Sundstrand, Honeywell, Northrop Grumman, Moog, Pratt & Whitney, National Space and Satellite Alliance and the Space Foundation. Additional information about the Coalition and the nation’s Vision for Space Exploration can be found online at www.spacecoalition.com. About the Space Foundation
The Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Space Foundation is a national non-profit organization, which vigorously advances civil, commercial, and national security space endeavors and educational excellence. In addition to supporting the Coalition for Space Exploration, the Space Foundation annually conducts, along with its partnering organizations, the National Space Symposium, Space at the Crossroads, and the upcoming Strategic Space 2004, scheduled Oct. 5-7, in Omaha, Neb. The Foundation recently created a Web site just for kids with fun space activities. The Foundation also manages an on-site NASA Educational Resource Center; offers two distinct Master’s in Space Studies Degrees in conjunction with the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and Regis University; and has trained more than 30,000 teachers since 1986 on Teaching With Space through Space Discovery graduate courses and national conferences. For more information, visit www.spacefoundation.org.