Transcript Document

A Digested Version of the AIAA Presidential
Campaign Questionnaire
Briefing to the ACGSC
By Phil Hattis, AIAA VP for Public Policy
October 15, 2008
AIAA Presidential Campaign Project: Objectives and Process
• The AIAA Public Policy Committee (PPC) and Technical Activities Committee
(TAC) formulated key policy questions drawn from all areas of AIAA member
interests
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The questions were intentionally made brief to make sure responses did not draw on
material included in the question submittal package
They were designed to encompass the issues of greatest importance to AIAA
members
The questions were submitted to the campaigns of both Senator McCain and Senator
Obama in early July
• Responses were printed in an Aerospace America (AA) October issue insert
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PPC and TAC members prepared added background material (after the candidates
had the questions) to inform AA readers about the motivation for each question
In the end, candidate responses had to be extracted from their public policy statement
releases (with much AIAA public policy staff work involved)
The questions, background material, and derived policy responses from each
candidate are printed in parallel in the AA insert with no political bias
An Important Disclaimer
• The digesting of the complete candidate statements
was done solely by Phil Hattis for this presentation
·
Please blame Phil for any errors made in that process
• See the October 2008 Aerospace America insert for
the full candidate position statements
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“Election 2008: The Candidates Vision for Aerospace,” a
special supplement to Aerospace America
Question 1: The Vision
1. What is your vision and timetable for future US Achievements in space and aeronautics?
a. What policies and resources will you apply to realize that vision?
Background
Our nation is at crossroads for space and aeronautics policies. US human launch capability is scheduled for a
lengthy hiatus with the pending retirement of the Shuttle, with the future direction of follow-on human exploration
programs still being vigorously debated. Requested and approved funding to develop new human spaceflight
vehicles has been well under original projections. National aeronautics research funding has taken precipitous cuts
over the past decade, with most of the historical military sponsorship eliminated, and the on-going NASA
sponsorship in a steady decline. Another consequence of these trends: Much of the applicable research
sponsorship to universities in the space and aeronautics arenas has been withdrawn to better sustain in-house
government research.
Some of the issues encompassed by this question include the following:
 The level of perceived importance assigned to space and aeronautics research and development
 The future direction of national space exploration programs and the role of human spaceflight in those
programs
 The expected role of the federal government in advancing the state of the art in aeronautics and astronautics
 The sustainability of US leadership in aeronautics and space capabilities
Question 1 Major Response Points
McCain
• Support use of space as science
observation platform (including for
climate change)
• Support X-prize-type activities
• Invest in key space industries
• Justifies human spaceflight for going
beyond science benefits
• Control costs and assure sound
program management
• Complete the International Space
Station (ISS)
• Pursue current human exploration
goals
Obama
• Establish robust and balance civilian
space program that inspires
• Address climate change, energy
independence and aeronautics
research
• Reach out to international partners,
while maintaining US leadership
• Assure a strong aeronautics industry,
and air traffic efficiency
• Develop technologies that enable
competing effectively in the
international marketplace
Question 2a: Getting Youth Into Aerospace
2. What will you do regarding the following issues facing the aerospace sector?
a. Getting enough of our youth motivated to seek aerospace careers while affording and
obtaining the educational preparation necessary to provide a quality replacement for the
rapidly aging aerospace workforce.
Background
The aerospace workforce is aging--in the next 10 years, the aerospace industry faces the challenges of losing a
significant part of its workforce to retirement. To obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to replace these retirees,
the youth of our nation require higher education in aerospace-related fields. However, it is increasingly difficult for
young people to afford this education as costs continue to rise. To make matters worse, the talented youth of our
nation once educated are shying away from careers in aerospace in ever-increasing numbers instead opting for other
high-tech careers. Key factors that discourage them from pursuing aerospace careers include flat salaries, job
insecurity, and less desirable working conditions.
The issue has two major facets: How to financially enable our nation’s talented youth to obtain quality education in
aerospace-related fields; how to-energize and motivate young adults, after being properly educated, toward seeking
and keeping careers in aerospace.
Question 2a Major Response Points
McCain
Obama
• Ensure space exploration is a top
priority
• Commit to the NASA constellation
program
• Utilize the ISS as a national laboratory
• Maintain space infrastructure
• Ensure the national space workforce is
maintained and fully utilized
• Prevent earmarks from diverting
precious resources
• Reestablish the Space Council in the
Administration to oversee space
program coordination
• Solicit public and international
participation in working toward a 21st
century vision of space that constantly
pushes the envelope
Question 2b: Capability Preservation
2. What will you do regarding the following issues facing the aerospace sector?
b. Long-term preservation of aerospace work force capabilities that are critical to national
security when there are few development programs to maintain proficiency in many of those
capabilities.
Background
Some products and capabilities that are critical to national security applications have very limited parallel civil use,
or demand added capabilities that go beyond civil usage needs. Consequently, when there are long gaps between
US development programs for systems using those products and capabilities, then the US production base and
expertise associated with these products and capabilities erodes or disappears. A military and civil-space trend in
recent years has been to have far fewer major system development programs, lower production bases for the
products resulting from those programs, and much longer gaps between the start of such programs. Consequently,
access to an increasing number of products and capabilities critical to national security are at risk. Example areas
of concern include means to develop high thrust hydrocarbon-fuel rocket engines (with recent reliance on Russian
engine technology) and continued advancement of radiation hardened processors. When these domestic
production bases and associated technical capabilities disappear, the result is either high costs and delays
associated with the reestablishing the capabilities when needed again, or reliance on foreign suppliers that may
have conflicting national interests. The candidates’ views are sought on this matter to determine if they recognize
the scope of the problem and to determine if they have proposed strategies to sustain these critical capabilities.
Question 2b Major Response Points
McCain
• Place a priority on science and
technology experience
• Assure appointees have adequate
experience and understanding
• Fill critical shortages of skilled workers
(including more visas for top-notch
talent)
• Retrain displaced workers
• Target educational grants to minorities
and low-income students
Obama
• Advance new frontiers in applicable
technologies which advance
exploration and also have major
technological benefits
• Encourage cooperative framework for
long-term and sustainable international
exploration initiative
• Use space exploration as a tool of
global diplomacy
• Continue NASA architecture studies
and advanced planning to ensure the
American space workforce remains
engaged in long-term, collaborative,
and cost-effective exploration of the
Moon, Mars, and beyond
Question 2c: ITAR
2. What will you do regarding the following issues facing the aerospace sector?
c. Adverse economic and intellectual exchange effects resulting from the current International
Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) regimen.
Background
The U.S. Government views the sale, export, and re-transfer of defense articles and services as an integral part of
safeguarding national security and furthering foreign policy objectives. The Arms Export Control Act (AECA)
provides the authority to control the export of defense articles and services, and charges the President to exercise
this authority. Executive Order 11958 from January 1977 delegated this statutory authority to the Secretary of
State. ITAR is the set of regulations used by the Department of State (DoS) to implement this export-control
authority. Any export of articles and services which are specified in the U.S. Munitions List (USML) requires a
license issued by the DoS's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) with the concurrence of the Department
of Defense. Before issuing the license, DDTC reviews all parties to the proposed transaction(s), clarifies the
ultimate end-use and end-user(s) of the export, and verifies that the export cannot be resold or retransferred without
prior U.S. Government authorization. (Continues on next page)
Question 2c: ITAR (cntd.)
Background (cntd.)
ITAR export controls are currently applied to the transfer of goods as well as of knowledge. The regulations impose
bureaucratic requirements that add costs to the export process and can delay program execution by US firms,
universities and other organizations. Other possible consequences include a reduction of American
competitiveness in the global economy and stifled innovation. In some instances, ITAR imposition has resulted in
re-creation abroad of capabilities protected by the regulatory regime (as a strategy to avoid ITAR impacts). Among
these instances are a few that resulted in the loss of domestic defense-related capabilities and/or production bases
(e.g., the US share of commercial-satellite manufacturing has fallen from over 80% before 1999 to 50% now)..
Therefore, it can be argued that ITAR sometimes weakens national security by introducing disincentives for
collaboration by potential overseas partners, by generating competition in areas in which the U.S. would otherwise
have had a competitive advantage, and by weakening some US industrial sectors.
Over the past decade, there have been numerous reports by various government, academic and private sector
organizations regarding the intended and unintended consequences of the US export control regime. Included are
findings related to what articles, services, and associated providers really need ITAR applied vs. what is otherwise
now available abroad despite (or because of) ITAR. Some of these reports also note that the ITAR license
processing system is under strain, unable to handle the complexity of technologies for which licenses are
requested, and lacking either transparency or consistency in the license processing.
Given the noted issues associated with ITAR application, the candidates’ views are sought regarding how to
preserve the intent of ITAR without suffering the unintended adverse impacts.
Question 2c Major Response Points
McCain
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•
•
•
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Globalization is an opportunity for
American workers
We need to be at the table when rules for
access to international markets are set
using multilateral, regional, and bilateral
efforts to reduce barriers
Defense exports improve interoperability
with friendly forces that are increasingly
likely to operate in coalition warfare or
peacekeeping missions
Ensure workers continue to benefit from
exports to other countries American (since
one in five domestic jobs depend on
factory exports)
Pursue free trade agreements with our
trading partners
Obama
•
•
•
•
Some sections of the ITAR have unduly
hampered aerospace competitiveness
Outdated restrictions have cost billions of
dollars to American satellite and space
manufacturers
Direct a review of the ITAR to reevaluate
restrictions on American companies
Direct revisions to the licensing process to
ensure American suppliers are competitive
in the international aerospace markets
without jeopardizing American national
security
Question 2d: Air Transportation Economic Distress
2. What will you do regarding the following issues facing the aerospace sector?
d. Severe economic pressures that threaten the viability of our national air transportation
system (i.e., steep fuel price increases, the high cost of replacing aging aircraft, and
recovery from bankruptcies).
Background
The airlines are experiencing extreme financial difficulties within the current state of the economy (this after only
partially recovering from the post-9/11 shock). As a result of the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, today's airline
industry is radically different from its pre-1978 form. Prior to deregulation, the industry resembled a public utility,
with a government agency, the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), determining the routes each airline flew and
overseeing the prices they charged. Today, it is a market-driven industry, with customer demand determining the
levels of service and price, much like the trucking, bus or rail transportation industries. With very rapidly escalating
costs, airlines are raising prices any way they can, but face market-driven constraints on revenue gains.
Meanwhile, the US airline industry has a severe need of fresh capital. The post 9/11 economic crisis and present
credit crunch have put a tight limit on airlines’ ability to borrow money from the domestic market which is seriously
limiting their ability to renew their aircraft fleet (thereby preventing associated fuel usage efficiency gains).
Another consequent result is that airline bankruptcies are becoming frequent events, some now resulting in
liquidations. The issue is the long-term viability of this essential part of our transportation infrastructure that is now
so severely threatened.
Question 2d Major Response Points
McCain
• Address the volatile energy economy
and foreign oil dependency
• End the moratorium of off shore drilling
Obama
• Rising oil prices not only affect
motorists, but squeeze the airlines
(and the Air Force)
• Advance aeronautical research at
NASA to dramatically improve aircraft
fuel efficiency
Question 2e: Air Traffic Management
2. What will you do regarding the following issues facing the aerospace sector?
e. Meeting the needs of a projected increase in air travel demand (including unmanned
vehicles) in the face of an aging, capacity and capability-limited air traffic control system
Background
In difficult economic times, all of the transportation industries suffer; however, the air transportation industry suffers
additional financial pressures due to inefficiencies within the National Air Transportation System resulting from an
antiquated and inefficient air traffic control (ATC) system. The inability of the ATC system to meet market demand
is a prime cause (though not the only one) of considerable delays that cost the airlines significant loss of revenue.
In the May 2008 Joint Economic Committee Report, air-traffic delays were reported to have raised airlines'
operating costs by $19 billion, with the cost of wasted fuel being approximately $1.6 billion (using a 2007 fuel cost of
$2.15 per gallon). The total cost of delays approached $41 billion in 2007 and continues to increase as fuel prices
rise. This further weakens the air transportation system at an especially critical time when the demand for
transporting passengers and cargo is expected to grow significantly in future. (Continues on next page)
Question 2e: Air Traffic Management (cntd.)
Background (cntd.)
In the near term (2-3 years), there are few signs of a sustained rebound in economic growth or a reduction in
aviation fuel prices, making prospects for a robust rise in demand in the US appear slim. However, in the longer
term (more than 5 years), air transportation demand is likely to rebound, as it did after the economic slowdown
and war during 1991-1993 and the aftermath of 9/11. In less than 10 years, air travel in the US could exceed 1
billion annual passengers. Furthermore, there will be a complex and evolving mix of aircraft in the system
consisting of legacy jet transports, emerging concepts in the business jet and very light jet categories, and
Uninhabited Arial Vehicles (UAVs) serving needs of the Department of Homeland Security. The increased
number and diversity of operations will exert pressure on the limited air transportation system resources and may
complicate the ability of the system to scale up performance. Fees, taxes (via ad valorem taxes) and/or. pricing
for allocating resources such as airport landing (slot vs. congestion pricing), could be used to limit air traffic
volume. Alternatively (or additionally), the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) could transform
the civil aviation infrastructure to increase capacity, but will require sustained investment to achieve this goal. A
key issue is how to provide a sufficient funding mechanism for the necessary ATC infrastructure development and
upgrade implementation.
“ ‘Your Flight Has Been Delayed’-FLIGHT DELAYS COST PASSENGERS, AIRLINES, AND THE U.S.
ECONOMY BILLIONS,” A REPORT BY THE JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE MAJORITY STAFF CHAIRMAN,
SENATOR CHARLES E. SCHUMER VICE CHAIR, REP. CAROLYN B. MALONEY, MAY 2008
Question 2e Major Response Points
McCain
• No Applicable Campaign Statement
Obama
• Supports aeronautics research to
address aviation safety, air traffic
control, and noise reduction
Question 3: Sustaining Capabilities and Facilities
3. What are your priorities for sustaining and revitalizing major domestic aerospace
research capabilities, testing facilities, and infrastructure across the government, in the
commercial sector, and at universities?
Background
Aerospace research projects and product development programs rely heavily on test facilities and related
infrastructure, including wind tunnels, engine test stands, space simulation facilities, flight test aircraft and support
facilities, as well as computational assets. These facilities and their capabilities are needed in the aerospace
industry for the foreseeable future. Over the past decade, there has been a significant reduction in the number of
major aerodynamic test facilities in both the government and private sectors. The number of test facilities and the
capabilities they represent are now at a critical level. (Continues on next page)
Question 3: Sustaining Capabilities and Facilities (cntd.)
Background (cntd.)
All of the major government and private sector test facilities are on the order of 30 or more years old, with many
critical facilities over 50 years old. Test facilities of this type are expensive to operate and maintain, which is even
more of an issue for older facilities. In addition to the testing infrastructure, the key skills required to operate
these facilities has eroded. Many of the key engineering and technical experts for these facilities are eligible to
retire within the next 10 years. The next generation of testing personnel is being brought on board, but it takes
years to properly train test engineers and test facility operators. NASA is addressing some of these issues
through the Shared Capabilities Asset Program (SCAP) and the Aeronautics Testing Program (ATP). SCAP
provides maintenance and sustainment support for a variety of the aerospace testing facilities and support
infrastructure, while ATP focuses on a specific subset of aerodynamic and aero-propulsion wind tunnels as well
as engine test facilities. In addition, while U.S. infrastructure has been reduced with no addition of major facilities
for over 20 years, several new test facilities, most notably wind tunnels, have been built in Europe and Asia with
capabilities that exceed those of facilities in the U.S. This combination of circumstances has put the United
States in the precarious position of dependency on foreign facilities to conduct advanced and affordable
aeronautics research and product development. The dependency on foreign test facilities also raises concerns
over data security and the loss of competitive advantage in aerospace product development.
Question 3 Major Response Points
McCain
• Eliminate earmarks to improve federal
government support for university
research
Obama
• Given the extensive DoD, NRO, and
NOAA investments in space
operations capabilities, have NASA
work more closely with the other
agencies to garner their expertise and
apply their technologies – include
sharing research and technical
information with better coordination of
acquisition programs
Question 4: Enhancing US Competitiveness
4.
How will you protect and enhance U.S. competitiveness in civil and military aeronautics research
and development as Asia and Europe increase their investments in aeronautics research?
Background
The United States is currently the world leader in aviation technology. Air transportation and military air power are vital to the U.S.
economy and national security. According to the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), the sale of commercial aircraft and parts
made a positive net contribution of $55 billion towards the U.S. balance of trade in 2006, and aviation-related industries were our
largest source of exported manufactured goods. However, our leadership role in this field is threatened. The United States has
significantly diminished its investment in aeronautics research and development while our current and future competitors are
executing ambitious plans to expand their capabilities and take over the leadership role. Aeronautics research and development
plans in Europe are outlined in the report European Aeronautics: A Vision for 2020 – Meeting society’s needs and winning global
leadership. The European Commission provides long-term stable funding for aeronautics and many other research areas through a
series of strategic research programs. Europe is currently operating under Framework Programme 7 which provides funding for
2007-2013, and which sets specific research goals in a coordinated multi-national effort. In Asia, both India and China have
burgeoning economies, large technically trained workforces, and low labor rates, which they hope to harness to form globally
dominant aerospace enterprises. In contrast, NASA’s aeronautics budget has steadily decreased for the past fifteen years, and
when adjusted for inflation the current aeronautics budget is less than one third of what it was in 1994. In addition, there has been a
lack of long-term commitment to carry out a vision for the future, as leadership often changes direction and programs are cancelled
midstream. There is a synergy between civil and military aeronautics and DoD makes substantial investments in aeronautics
research and development. The 2002 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) and the Defense Science Board recommended that
research and development (6.1, 6.2 and 6.3) funding in science and technology make up 3% of the total DoD budget in order to
maintain a healthy research foundation to support future defense needs. However, DoD has not been able to maintain that level of
investment due to budgetary pressure from current military operations.
Question 4 Major Response Points
McCain
• No Applicable Campaign Statement
Obama
• Advanced space and aeronautics
research can catalyze economic
growth
• Encourage public/private sector space
technology partnerships to spur
innovation
Question 5: US Space Access
5. What will you do to advance US space access (launch) capabilities and to limit the
pending hiatus in US-based human space access?
Background
The Columbia Accident Investigation Board recommended that the Space Shuttle be either recertified or
retired by 2010. When opting to pursue the Vision for Space Exploration, the Administration elected to retire
the Shuttle. The Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle combined with the Ares 1 launch vehicle is now planned to
replace the Shuttle as the only means for US-supplied means human access to space. When operational,
the Orion and the Ares 1 will transport crews to the International Space Station (ISS). Subsequent
development of the much larger Ares 5 launch vehicle would extend the reach of Orion to the moon (along
with the proposed development of the Antares vehicle to provide access to the lunar surface). The current
go-as-you-pay budget for NASA means Orion and Ares 1 will not carry a human crew to Earth orbit until
2015, leaving five years during which the U.S. will have no human spaceflight capability. NASA plans to buy
seats on the Russian Soyuz capsule for astronauts during this five-year gap. (Continues on next page)
Question 5: US Space Access (cntd.)
Background (cntd.)
There is concern that access to the Soyuz flights by US astronauts could be disrupted by mounting political
tensions between Russia and the U.S., as well as technical problems with Soyuz. Consequently, the US faces
the dual risks of not being able to get adequate access to the ISS for an extended period and waning space
leadership during the same period in the face of any space achievements by Russia, China, and possibly other
nations.
Higher Orion and Ares 1 budgets in the near term could shorten the US human spaceflight capability gap.
Another approach to gaining human access to Earth orbit is funding for privately developed, crew-rated
spaceflight capabilities under an extension of the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program.
Successful development of means for human access to Earth orbit independent of Orion and Ares launch
vehicles would free the US to focus the development of Orion and Ares capabilities on lunar and/or other deep
space missions rather than ISS support. Finally, NASA has been authorized to begin to fund cash-prize
competitions for successful non-government-funded development of capabilities for some small projects. If the
small project prize competitions show significant promise, then authorization of NASA to offer large cash prizes
for successful development of some major new capabilities could also be considered by the government.
Question 5 Major Response Points
McCain
•
•
Speed the availability of the Ares I and
Orion
Avoid decisions (for at lest one year) that
irretrievably lead to shutdown of the
Shuttle program
Obama
•
•
•
•
Expedite development of the Shuttle’s
successor systems
Support adding at least one additional
Shuttle mission to fly a valuable (AMT
payload) mission
Support private sector efforts to develop
and demonstrate spaceflight capabilities
Enlist international ISS partners to provide
cargo resupply and alternate human space
access means
Question 6: Approach to Space Militarization
6.
Given new threats to critical US space assets (e.g., the recent Chinese anti-satellite
weapon test), what approach will you take regarding the militarization of space?
Background
For decades space assets in earth orbit have provided communication, navigation, and surveillance capabilities that
have become essential to maintaining global security. The military and intelligence agencies of the US and other
nations have become dependent on these assets. However, recent events, including a successful Chinese in-orbit
demonstration of an anti-satellite weapon system, highlight the increasing vulnerability of earth-orbit space systems.
There are many proposals for introduction of new space systems that would protect the existing space assets.
Some of these proposed systems would use ground based or in-space weapons to attack vehicles that threaten
other space assets. There are also proposals for in-space weapon systems that would provide one or more layers
of missile defense by providing directed energy or kinetic kill intercept capability as an adjunct to ground and airbased systems.
Space already serves essential military purposes without placement of weapons there. Historically, the US has
opposed any placement of weapons into space, in part because of the potential threat they could pose to existing
constellations of critical strategic space assets. New threats and technologies have introduced political pressure to
change that historical stance at the possible risk of a space arms race. The policies of the next president in this
area may be critical to defining the actual nature and role of military capabilities in space for decades to come.
Question 6 Major Response Points
McCain
• Support development and deployment
of theater and national missile
defenses
• No longer trust the balance of terror,
instead deploying effective missile
defenses to safeguard our people
Obama
• Engage other nations in discussions of
how best to stop the slow slide
towards a new battlefield
• Protect assets in space by pursuing
new technologies and capabilities that
allow avoidance of attacks or rapid
recovering from them (including the
operational responsive space
program)
• Develop an international approach to
minimizing space debris
• Work with other nations to develop
“rules of the road” for space to ensure
all nationals have a common
understanding of acceptable behavior
Question 7: Aerospace Role in Addressing Climate Change
7. What is your perception of the role of our national aerospace facilities and agencies in
monitoring and mitigating the effects of climate change?
Background
Current scientific understanding of climate change is founded upon a vast array of studies performed over the past
few decades. In the U.S., fundamental and applied climate change research is conducted or funded by several
federal agencies whose charters intersect with the aerospace sector. These include NASA, NSF, DOC, DOD, DOT,
and DOE. Climate change studies conducted by federal agencies are organized under the U.S. Global Change
Research Program (USGCRP). Among these agencies, NASA, DOD, and DOT (through the FAA) appear to have
the greatest intersection between their climate change research and operations portfolios and the aerospace sector.
NASA’s Earth Observing System continues to feature several satellites and missions dedicated to quantitative
measurements associated with climate change, but a review of satellites and missions currently in development or
under consideration suggests that these activities may decrease during the next five years.
DOD does not support a core fundamental research program in climate change, but conducts a variety of programs
to measure and forecast the climate in order to assess its effects on DOD strategic plans and operations. Based on
USGCRP reports, most of this work is focused on ocean studies by the Navy and polar climate studies by the Army.
Intersection with the aerospace sector is mostly through the use of satellites as sensor platforms. (Continues on next
page)
Question 7: Aerospace Role in Addressing Climate Change (cntd.)
Background (cntd.)
FAA focuses it climate change research program on the effects of engine emissions and on reducing fuel
consumption through optimizing fleet operations. Also of particular interest to the FAA are jet aircraft contrails
which have been implicated in exacerbating global warming. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
estimates the net warming effect of contrails from subsonic jet aircraft flying in the upper troposphere is 2.7 times
the effect of the carbon dioxide they produce, and the effect of supersonic flight in the stratosphere is 5.4 times
higher. However, the FAA states that substantial uncertainty still exists about the details and severity of this
effect.
National commitments spanning multiple administrations will be required to do the research necessary to
complete our understanding of climate change factors, to measure changes in those factors, and to track the
results of any efforts that are made to mitigate climate change.
A parallel issue is the integrity of the scientific reporting process associated with climate change research. There
was alleged censoring of NASA scientists who spoke publicly about climate change research results that may
have been instigated by political appointees to public affairs offices. Directed content changes to professional
publications regarding climate change research results were also alleged. These allegations generated
substantial controversy in the media, and necessitated publicly announced corrective action by senior NASA
management. Federally funded scientists and engineers can make critical contributions in the worldwide
discussion of the current state of climate change, its potential consequences, and robust mitigation strategies, but
their efforts will have little value if objective reporting of the results of their work is not assured.
Question 7 Major Response Points
McCain
• No Applicable Campaign Statement
Obama
• Lean forward to deploy a global
climate change research and
monitoring system that will work for
decades to come
• Support the Landsat Data Continuity
Mission
• Work to launch the Global
Precipitation Measurement Mission
Question 8: Sustaining Bi-Partisan Support
8. How will you promote sustained, bi-partisan support for technological endeavors
(including in aerospace) that are in the national interest but have long gestation times?
Background
Major national technological initiatives require research, development, and implementation time spans longer than
the tenure of any single Federal Administration. Among the aerospace programs that fall into this category are
space exploration initiatives, major aeronautical capability development and demonstration programs, as well as
development and implementation of new air traffic management capabilities. For these programs to survive and
thrive through multiple election cycles, they must clearly serve a national interest and must be founded on
enduring bi-partisan goals. Programs that failed to meet these criteria have often been cancelled before fruition,
but after significant expenditures. Even meeting these criteria, sustained advocacy by the Administration may be
required to prevent short-term political crises or Federal budget resource competition from preempting the support
necessary to achieve success in major on-going research and development initiatives. This question seeks
perspective from the candidates regarding how they expect shape and manage the political environment to help
ensure the sustained support that is needed by major, federally funded technological initiatives.
Question 8 Major Response Points
McCain
• Reform and make permanent the R&D
tax credit – will make it equal to 10%
of wages spent on R&D
• Keep capital gains low to avoid taxing
innovation
• Allow first-year expensing of new
equipment and technology to provide
an immediate boost to capital
expenditures and to reward
investments in cutting technologies
Obama
• Support renewed human exploration
beyond low earth orbit
• Consider options to extend ISS
operations beyond 2016
• Support a robust research and
technology development program that
addresses the long-term needs for
future human and robotic missions
• Support a funding goal that maintains
at least 10% of the total exploration
systems budget for research and
development