NRO: Take The Moon Shot, Vance. Georgia would benefit if he did.
Alexander Salter urges Vice President JD Vance to embrace the exciting developments happening in the aerospace industry.
Historically, vice presidents have been their bosses’ point men for space policy. Mike Pence performed this role admirably during Trump’s first administration as chairman of the National Space Council. By taking personal interest and exercising leadership, Pence contributed to several notable policy initiatives, including strengthening property rights to celestial resources, promoting the commercial space industry, and advancing long-term strategic interests. But these gains may erode for lack of an advocate. The National Space Council has yet to meet since Trump’s inauguration, and despite occasional positive remarks, Vance seems lukewarm about space.
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The first space race was largely an elite affair, driven by scientists and engineers with formal academic credentials. But the second space race will be different in a way that plays to Vance’s strengths. Thanks to increased commercialization, space can create broadly distributed economic prosperity. The technological and commercial opportunities afforded by expanding space missions are enormous. Obviously, we need engineers and rocket scientists. But we also need plenty of welders and skilled machinists. Technically competent workers are essential for wiring, assembling, and testing spacecraft. These jobs have rigorous training and apprenticeship programs but typically do not require college degrees. Imagine offering laborers the chance to work with their hands on materials that will travel beyond the Earth and maybe even to new worlds…
Should VP Vance heed this advice, the state of Georgia would be poised for a huge economic and technological boost.
I’ve written before about eVTOLs and Georgia’s role in the development of this burgeoning industry.
It was announced last week that NASA is partnering with Georgia Tech to develop this technology further.
One of the first major projects is RAVEN, short for Research Aircraft for eVTOL Enabling techNologies. It’s a joint effort with NASA to design, build, and fly an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) research aircraft in the 1,000-pound weight class.
The school says RAVEN will serve as a test platform for electric propulsion reliability, flight controls, noise reduction, and autonomy. Systems integration and testing will take place in Georgia Tech’s new lab, underscoring the facility’s central role in shaping the national agenda for advanced air mobility.
In addition to eVTOLs, Georgia Tech’s aerospace engineering school is cranking out engineers at an astounding pace. Tech aerospace grads account for about 10% of all aerospace engineers in the industry, according to the GT alumni association. But as Salter points out, the new space race will employ people from all walks of life, not just engineers.
Aerospace is an industry Georgia should continue to prioritize. It will pay dividends for all our citizens if we do.
