Mr. Vice President and distinguished members of the National Space Council:
It is an honor to appear before you today to contribute to a bold, new vision for U.S. leadership in space.
This is an exciting time for our nation. The re-establishment of the National Space Council comes as a new generation of young Americans looks to the moon, Mars, and beyond – with optimism, energy, and wonder.
Space has always been a frontier worthy of the American spirit. It demands our ingenuity and daring, and it drives us to visionary research and long-term collaboration. And throughout history, we have proven that U.S. ventures in space lead to broad societal benefits that lift our national economy and strengthen us as one people.
For decades, our technological leadership in space has strengthened our national security so that Americans can live, work, and trade in peace. And just this past month, we once again saw the tremendous value of our space infrastructure, as our nation was hit by three hurricanes of extraordinary power. Because of our investments in space, our satellites helped government leaders plan for the worst. They helped millions of citizens prepare and evacuate key areas. And, in the process, countless lives were saved.
At Lockheed Martin, we have been proud to invest and to support our nation’s ventures in space – from interplanetary exploration to national security. And among our many partnerships today, we are honored to be building the Orion deep-space exploration vehicle for NASA, which will soon take American astronauts back to the moon – and farther than we’ve ever gone before.
As we look to the challenges of the 21st century, it is clear that the pace of technological change is accelerating and that it is imperative our nation act.
At Lockheed Martin, we see three keys to securing American leadership in space. Our nation will need:
- clear and strong government leadership,
- visionary programs, and
- stable, sustained investment.
By taking these positive actions, we will enable industry to plan, invest, and innovate over the long term. And, in turn, our nation will foster a robust U.S. supply chain with advanced manufacturers, high-quality jobs, and transformative technologies.
Nothing better represents America’s optimism about the future than space. And nothing is more inspiring to the next generation of science, technology, engineering, and math students than an America resolved to explore and unlock the mysteries of the universe together.
Thank you, and I look forward to your questions.
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