By George Gaudy
VPSI’s Brevard County Manager
Over the past two to three years I have alluded to the fact that the space
program was not heading in the right direction and that it could cause concern over the future of vanpool growth in Brevard County, Florida. Since I have been associated with the growth of our space program through my past employment assignments starting in the mid-1950s, I have a sincere interest in what is happening to our major investment in space. I have also watched our lifestyles grow by leaps and bounds as a result of the technology that evolved from our challenges to conquer a new frontier, which we did. A lot has happened since July 1969, forty years ago, when Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon, saying, “one small step for a man – one giant leap for mankind.” I recognize that a majority of my VPSI colleagues were not born yet, or were small children, and have taken that 
giant leap, and all of its rewards we use every day in our present lifestyle, for granted.
I would like to take this opportunity to share my present understanding with you regarding present planning and how it can affect vanpooling in not only Brevard County, but in Huntsville, New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, Houston, and in California – all those locations with NASA Operations to service our Space Programs. We must be aware, and not be surprised if/and when the potential negative actions do become a reality.
A few years ago President Bush established a new plan for space activities that included terminating manned space flights utilizing the shuttle fleet in 2010, and retiring the fleet in 2011. The plan also included the development of a new crew launch vehicle (rocket ), Ares 1 (picture) and a capsule (back to the ‘50 -’60s) to be used to visit the moon in 2020, and Mars in the distant future. This technology appears to me to be “one giant step backwards”. In the mean time, in order to utilize the International Space Station, which we have a major investment in, after 2010 we must rely on the Russians for a ride to work. I wonder if they are as dependable as our VPSI vanpools.
What does all this mean? Loss of jobs and a stretch out of present plans. Senator Obama, the Presidential candidate, visited the area before the election and left with the area believing he would support NASA and the space program to reduce mass job losses and program delays. As our President, he hasn’t taken that action yet. The White House ordered a review of NASA’s human spaceflight program in May. In June President Obama appointed a blue-ribbon panel to conduct the review. The panel’s report is due to the President on 31 August.
For those who might share my interests, here is a link to a recent article published in our local newspaper regarding this general subject, and some preliminary options that will be sent to the President by the appointed panel on 31 August. I don’t feel our National Space Program gets much coverage outside of a few areas that participate directly in it, so I just wanted to share what little knowledge I may have regarding a program I have been involved in for a long time, and that is dear to my heart. I want to see the wonderful technology that we take for granted continue to grow for future generations, and I want to see a healthy space program restored that will allow us to continue to support vanpooling profitably to contribute to VPSI’s bottom line.
In summary, I hope we all witness another “giant leap forward for mankind”.
Tags: 1969, Brevard County, coverage, Florida, George Gaudy, International Space Station, loss of jobs, NASA, neil armstrong, President Bush, Senator Obama, space, space programs, VPSI
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