In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, sparking the international space race. Four years later, President John Kennedy stunned the world when he announced that the United States would land a man on the moon by the end of the decade.
As history shows, we did it. On July 21, 1969, astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first human being to walk on the moon. Other missions followed, but the United States eventually lost interest.
In 2004, President Bush announced that America would return astronauts to the moon as early as 2015 and no later than 2020. The president initially plans a series of robotic missions to the moon beginning next year.
NASA intends to land astronauts using the Ares and Orion spacecraft, replacements for the shuttle that already are under development if Congress and the next president continue funding space exploration. American astronauts would set up a lunar outpost — possibly near its South Pole site called Shackleton Crater — where they’ll conduct scientific research as well as test technologies and techniques for possible exploration of Mars and other destinations.
But we may have competition, and it won’t come from the Russians. Japan, China and India now have active lunar programs. They are quietly launching what might be called the “Asian Space Race.”
For example, in late October, the Chang’e 1 orbiter blasted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province in southwestern China. It is expected to orbit Earth while technical adjustments are made before entering the moon’s orbit.
The launch comes just weeks after China’s regional rival, Japan, put a probe into orbit around the moon, a great leap forward in Asia’s undeclared space race. India is likely to join the regional rivalry soon, with plans to send its own lunar probe in April.
So what does it all mean to us?
For one thing, it means we will no longer have the corner on space technology. Those cutting-edge advancements made America the leader in computers, military equipment and things that improve our lives every day. For example, satellite technology brought us GPS systems for our cars, boats and airplanes. Our defense system is built upon space technology that guides cruise missiles to within inches of their intended targets.
Lots of that technology was developed through an emphasis on science and math education in our schools. For example, after the Soviets beat us into space in 1957, President Eisenhower pushed through the National Defense Education Act. Ike focused on improving science, math and foreign language skills by pouring a billion dollars into our schools and teacher preparation programs emphasizing those subjects.
Other nations are now catching up, and their education systems play a key role in their advancements. While Japan, China and India insist their students attain higher levels of math and science to support, among other things, the future of their space programs, Americans argue over standardized tests, like our state’s WASL. Many say they make it too tough for students to earn their high school diplomas and want to weaken the learning requirements. So, while we argue and find fault, our competitors learn and advance.
It is important to remember that the 10th-grade WASL, if fully implemented, would measure only eighth-grade level math, science, reading and writing competency. Today, that simply isn’t enough because space-age technology requires much greater mastery of those subjects.
Americans may need a national emergency, like the launch of Sputnik, to wake us up. Perhaps the Asian space programs will be the catalyst.
With much of our future depending on technical advancements from our space program, why do we insist on weakening learning standards? It not only puts our space program in jeopardy but threatens our position as the global technology leader. And that would put our space program on the back burner regardless of what our elected officials in Washington, D.C., do with the funding for NASA.
Don Brunell is president of the Association of Washington Business, Washington state’s chamber of commerce. Visit AWB online at www.awb.org.
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