It is my goal to contribute to the lowering of the cost of access to space. I believe that we need more people to work on the objective of getting into space for much less money than is currently possible.

For a long time I have been  interested in microsatellites and small, cheap launch vehicles. If the price of space exploration is lowered I think that other organizations would be interested in sponsoring space missions. These organizations include amateur science groups, schools and perhaps the National Geographic Society. If we are to continue our exploration of space, we must lower the costs in these times of dwindling budgets.

The new advances in microelectronics, materials, computing power and scientific sensors should be put to use in spacecraft. If missions cost less, new technologies and designs should gain more favor with mission planners. This should benefit both scientific research missions and commercial ventures in space.

New groups with new ideas should be encouraged in their research and contributions to space exploration. These groups include research laboratories, universities and a growing group of amateur enthusiasts whom I believe will launch a payload to space altitudes with their own rockets before very soon. When I was a young child I remember the later Apollo missions to the moon and they captivated my imagination. I hope to contribute to a second golden era of excitement and wonder in space exploration that will stimulate youngsters to have careers in science and technology fields.

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