Columbia disaster fails to inspire space policy
To some on Capitol Hill, it appears Congress is just going through the motions of reacting to the Columbia disaster by superficially scrutinizing the administration’s plans for the space agency and funneling money back home.
“We need a thorough overhaul of NASA,” said one unidentified Congressman, “but that’s no reason to question the pork and earmarks targeted to my district…”
The Columbia tragedy could have been the impetus politicians needed to gather public support for a great new space adventure, as President John F. Kennedy did in 1961 when he challenged the nation to go to the moon.
Noooooo! Aieeeeeeee! Not another Kennedy Program! [beats head against wall]