Huntsville, AL - The Rocket City got a big boost on what space professionals are calling the most significant news for the industry in years. The announcement of NASA's new heavy lift rocket, means jobs for the Tennessee Valley. “First of all, we have a little bit of stability, that there is a path forward. There is a direction. We do have a program now,” says Andrew Sutinen of the Huntsville Space Professionals.
That new direction means hundreds of former NASA employees could be back to work once the program is in place. Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle says he is pleased that Marshall Space Flight Center now has an opportunity to expand America's role as a global leader in space exploration. In a statement, the mayor said, "We now have a mission, a time frame, and parameters in which to build, and that is good news for NASA and good news for Huntsville.”
Valley leaders say the announcement reaches beyond NASA employees. “It trickles down and effects every aspect of our community. It's those people and those jobs that will be spending money with our local businesses,” says Lori King-Taylor of the Madison Chamber of Commerce.
Beyond business, former presidential advisor on NASA, Mark McDaniel says when space exploration thrives, it also inspires. “No other agency in government can inspire our youth to pursue careers in math and science and engineering than NASA can,” he says.
And if NASA is going to thrive, it will happen in the Rocket City. “We have out here at Marshall Space Flight Center some of the greatest scientists and engineers in the world, not just the nation, but the entire world,” says McDaniel.
Sutinen adds, “Not only do we have the talent for the heavy-lift, the Space Launch System program, but we have the talent for the new fledging emerging commercial space companies.”
