Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live At Daybreak
President Bush to Unveil Space Initiative Today
Aired January 14, 2004 - 06:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Sending a man to Mars has always been fodder for science fiction, but President Bush is set to unveil a new plan to make it science fact.
Bill Prasad joins us live from Washington with more on the president's space initiative.
NASA has got to be so excited about this.
BILL PRASAD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They are very excited at NASA headquarters. The president is expected to launch a challenge today, telling NASA it should boldly go where no astronaut has gone before.
But before the U.S. can go to Mars, Mr. Bush must answer some critics right here on earth.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PRASAD (voice-over): Astronauts on Mars. President Bush wants to turn this sci-fi dream into reality. The first step? Complete the International Space Station, then retire the aging space shuttle fleet, send humans back to the moon, then land them on Mars.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The Spirit is going to be one of continued explorations as to finding -- seeking new horizons.
PRASAD: A NASA exploration vehicle landed on the red planet more than a week ago. The rover may begin studying the surface as early as today.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We know where we are now, and we also know where we're going.
PRASAD: For decades, some critics charged NASA has appeared lost in space with no clear mandate. To change that, the president wants the space agency to invest in a new crew exploration vehicle, build a base on the moon, then shoot for Mars, perhaps by the year 2025.
But some Democrats fear the Bush vision is misdirected.
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), MINORITY LEADER: That we have issues here at home that are more important than building a colony on the moon.
PRASAD: The president wants to increase NASA's budget by 5 percent in the next five years. That's about $4 billion in new funding.
REP. DANA ROHRABACHER (R), CALIFORNIA: And it's all doable and it won't break the bank if we're responsible.
PRASAD: Ifs are a part of a space program that has been risky business since John Kennedy set his sights on the moon. Now, a new president has his eye on a new target.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
The White House was actually pondering this proposal even before the Columbia disaster last February. Ironically, the loss of that spacecraft and its crew may have added focus and urgency to the Bush plan.
We're live in Washington. I'm Bill Prasad.
Carol -- back to you.
COSTELLO: All right, thank you, Bill.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired January 14, 2004 - 06:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Sending a man to Mars has always been fodder for science fiction, but President Bush is set to unveil a new plan to make it science fact.
Bill Prasad joins us live from Washington with more on the president's space initiative.
NASA has got to be so excited about this.
BILL PRASAD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They are very excited at NASA headquarters. The president is expected to launch a challenge today, telling NASA it should boldly go where no astronaut has gone before.
But before the U.S. can go to Mars, Mr. Bush must answer some critics right here on earth.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PRASAD (voice-over): Astronauts on Mars. President Bush wants to turn this sci-fi dream into reality. The first step? Complete the International Space Station, then retire the aging space shuttle fleet, send humans back to the moon, then land them on Mars.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The Spirit is going to be one of continued explorations as to finding -- seeking new horizons.
PRASAD: A NASA exploration vehicle landed on the red planet more than a week ago. The rover may begin studying the surface as early as today.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We know where we are now, and we also know where we're going.
PRASAD: For decades, some critics charged NASA has appeared lost in space with no clear mandate. To change that, the president wants the space agency to invest in a new crew exploration vehicle, build a base on the moon, then shoot for Mars, perhaps by the year 2025.
But some Democrats fear the Bush vision is misdirected.
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), MINORITY LEADER: That we have issues here at home that are more important than building a colony on the moon.
PRASAD: The president wants to increase NASA's budget by 5 percent in the next five years. That's about $4 billion in new funding.
REP. DANA ROHRABACHER (R), CALIFORNIA: And it's all doable and it won't break the bank if we're responsible.
PRASAD: Ifs are a part of a space program that has been risky business since John Kennedy set his sights on the moon. Now, a new president has his eye on a new target.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
The White House was actually pondering this proposal even before the Columbia disaster last February. Ironically, the loss of that spacecraft and its crew may have added focus and urgency to the Bush plan.
We're live in Washington. I'm Bill Prasad.
Carol -- back to you.
COSTELLO: All right, thank you, Bill.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
