…But There May Be More Than Joyrides At Stake

Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) told the Commercial Space Conference on Thursday that the space industry is about more than tourism. “In 2010 the Shuttle will be retired,” he said. “So there is right now a need to move people into space quickly, safely and reliably. I believe that need could be met in large part by the private sector. … The job of Congress is to pass legislation and exercise its oversight functions in such a way that will enable this industry to succeed,” he said. Calvert is the newly selected chairman of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee of the House Science Committee.