Space Exploration

After Sputnik We Aimed High, Now Our Aims Are Low

Articles — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:59:00 -0400

Fifty years ago today, the Soviet Union stunned the world by orbiting a space satellite, Sputnik.

In 1957, Americans felt that we might lose the Cold War if the Russians could gain the "high frontier" of outer space. Fortunately, our political system rose to the challenge, providing the world with a lesson in the power of good leadership and mobilization in a free society.

Unfortunately, we are seeing little of that "can do" spirit today. And these techno-failures are hurting us here on Earth, to say nothing of the lost horizon of American leadership in space.

Back then, the 34th president was determined… more

James Pinkerton

Operations — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 16:19:00 -0400

Fellow

James P. Pinkerton worked in the White House under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. Since leaving government in 1993, he has been a columnist for Newsday, a contributor to the Fox News Channel, and a regular on Fox’s Newswatch show. He has also been a member of the board of contributors to USA Today and a lecturer at the Graduate School of Political Management at The George Washington University. Mr. Pinkerton is the author of What Comes Next: The End of Big Government and the New Paradigm Ahead (Hyperion, 1995), and his writings have appeared in The… more

Our Earthbound Candidates

Articles — Wed, 01 Nov 2000 00:00:00 -0500

Why is it that the popular imagination flies so high, while the political imagination just creeps along? TV, movies and video games bubble with enthusiasm for space exploration, but politicians, including the presidential candidates, aren't much… more