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Writer: Shanna Relford
news@utsi.edu
Josh Batterson and Eric Jacob, graduate students at University of
Tennessee Space Institute, recently joined 35 students and 111 other
representatives of Citizens for Space Exploration (CSE) on a trip to
Washington, D.C. The group went to Capitol Hill to ask members of
Congress to support space exploration by investing in NASA with one
percent of the federal budget.
Jacob and Batterson’s trip was sponsored by The Coalition for Space
Exploration, in conjunction with the Bay Area Houston Economic
Partnership’s Aerospace Advisory Committee (BAHEP). Bob Mitchell,
president of the partnership, said, “The significance of CSE’s
annual visit to Washington cannot be underestimated. By meeting
personally with these decision makers in Washington, we are better
able to impress upon them NASA’s scientific, technological, and
economic impact that affects us in so many positive ways.”
“For me, this opportunity was to see the political process in action
and hear the opinions of our representatives about the future of
America – not just NASA – and how NASA can help maintain our
position as a world power into the future,” said Batterson.
When asked about his participation in the CSE trip, Jacob replied,
“I’m a rocket scientist; so, working with NASA directly impacts me
at a funding level. As a student, I know that many other students
are affected as well. I also work with a lot of young children, and
I see that they really look up to NASA.”
Jacob and Batterson, both resident graduate students pursuing their
doctoral degrees in aerospace engineering at UTSI, joined other
undergraduate and graduate students from colleges and universities
across the nation to inform elected officials of the importance they
place on the space program. The students wanted to ensure that their
representatives were aware not only of their support of NASA, but
also of the electoral influence that they and their fellow students
and faculty carry.
Josh Batterson and Eric Jacob, shown above left to right, are both resident graduate students pursuing their doctoral degrees in aerospace engineering at The University of Tennessee Space Institute in Tullahoma. Jacob and Batterson recently joined other undergraduate and graduate students from colleges and universities across the nation on a trip to our nation’s capital to support NASA by informing elected officials of the importance they place on the space program.
-- UTSI Photo
