Space Exploration Leads To Wealth Of Knowledge

Re: John Herbert's column, "NASA Pork Just More Space Junk," in the Nov. 16 edition of Hernando Today.

As an aspiring astronaut, I was shocked to read Mr. Herbert's recent piece, "NASA Pork Just More Space Junk."

Our country is facing a difficult time, but this doesn't mean we throw our hands up and quit. While Mr. Herbert doesn't think the "average Joe" cares about space, a recent Gallup Poll showed that three-fourths of Americans support the space program.

And rightfully so - more than 1,600 products have been derived from NASA technologies, from daily conveniences to life-saving devices. The economic impact these innovations have on our country and the thousands of jobs created by NASA are certainly influential.

There is also amazing validity to the science being conducted aboard the International Space Station (ISS). As a national lab, the ISS allows us to develop new methods for living and potential cures for disease, including Parkinson's, diabetes and salmonella. We're not sending "junk" into space.

The next phase in our journey sends us back to the moon and on to Mars - unless Mr. Herbert gets his way. He may feel like we checked a box by landing on the moon, but I am ready for the next challenge. There is still a wealth of knowledge to uncover.

It is not a time to mark exploration as worthless and give up on the goals we have set for ourselves. Now is when we commit to persevere, become stronger and discover new things. Mr. Herbert, I hope you will join me and the majority of Americans who are up to the challenge.