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Ellen Belcher is the Dayton Daily News opinion pages editor. She writes about state government, education, the environment, higher education and all things Dayton.
Martin Gottlieb is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He focuses on the political process itself and does such national issues as war, the economy, taxes and Social Security, as well as a hodge-podge of local and state issues.
Scott Elliott is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He writes about education, city and suburban issues, politics, business, workforce and consumer issues.Home > Blogs > A Matter of Opinion > Archives > 2010 > August > 13 > Entry
Guest column: Campaign to land space shuttle offers some important lessons
This commentary was written by Jim Leftwich, president and CEO of the Dayton Development Coalition.
There are lessons to be learned from last month’s congressional skirmish over retired space shuttles.
NASA operates three space shuttles. A fourth, used in tests, is on display in the Washington, D.C., area. When the shuttle program ends next year, NASA plans to select museums around the country to exhibit the retired shuttles.
A shuttle would become the centerpiece for any museum. Consequently, competition is intense. About 20 museums have asked NASA for one of the four shuttles. The only contender in Ohio is the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Some competitors are estimating that landing a shuttle could bring a state 700 or more jobs and $40 million to $70 million in direct spending tied to increased visitation and museum activity.
Texas, which is home to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, and Florida, where the space shuttles have been launched, are both particularly aggressive in the pursuit of a retired shuttle.
Earlier this year, a bill backed mostly by members of the Texas and Florida congressional delegations was introduced that would have required NASA to give the shuttles to museums in those states.
When that bill didn’t go anywhere, a provision turned up in a draft bill that ordered NASA to give “priority consideration” to museums that met certain conditions — and only museums in Texas and Florida fit the bill.
When the House Science and Technology Committee took up the draft bill, the two Ohio members of the committee—Charlie Wilson and Marcia Fudge—offered an amendment to strike the provision. Though Texas and Florida are well represented on the committee, the provision was removed on an 18-14 vote.
Lesson one: It pays to be vigilant.
Lesson two: We need to fight aggressively to stay in this competition.
Lesson three is that teamwork counts. Congressman Michael Turner lobbied members of the committee. Ohio Governor Ted Strickland organized other governors. Senators Sherrod Brown and George Voinovich have been working with the House members to support the shuttle. The Dayton Development Coalition, Air Force Museum Foundation, and National Aviation Heritage Area have been working together.
Lesson four is that when a museum’s campaign extends beyond selling the merits and attempts to rely on raw political pressure, there is risk of a backlash.
On the merits, the National Museum of the United States Air Force has as strong as case as any museum. It is one of the best attended and best staffed. It has a strong education program and an existing collection of space artifacts to accompany and complement the new addition.
A shuttle in Ohio would honor the workers at Cleveland’s NASA Glenn Research Center, as well as acknowledge the current and historic links to the aerospace industry throughout the state.
The museum has one selling point that none of the other museums have — the Air Force Museum alone among the competitors represents the Department of Defense, which was a major contributor to the Space Shuttle Program.
The Air Force provided research — and much of that was done at Wright-Patterson. The Air Force backed the shuttle program when its fate was uncertain in Congress and provided billions of dollars to keep it going.
About 60 of the NASA astronauts who flew on the space shuttle had served as active or reserve Air Force officers.
As a community, we need to match or exceed the popular and political support of our competitors. We need to engage in all the techniques of bringing our state together behind this goal and demonstrating broad interest.
But we cannot count on that to win this competition. Ultimately, we need to make the case that the interests of the American people will be served better by landing a shuttle in Ohio than anywhere else.
We have a hand of aces — but so do some other museums. Our trump card might be the unique role of the Department of Defense.
In the end, the decision may be political. But only to a point. The lessons we learned show that we need to arm our elected officials with the best information to tell our story clearly, convincingly and aggressively.
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By Max
August 13, 2010 7:19 PM | Link to this
Two hands in the same game can’t hold all aces or something is wrong….yes, it is politics, and, yes, it comes down to who has the most clout, and, yes, our represenatives ARE aware of what Dayton wants. Using the ‘projected’ jobs and economy effect a space shuttle would provide to our area - compared to Houston and Florida which do have a tourist industry - is the weakest of all arguments. That is speculation no bank would loan money on. Especially, local banks. Mr. Leftwich’s commentary sounds familiar at halftime in the locker room; “We’re going to lose this game but will take what we learn from it to use against future opponents.”
By Ed Borden
August 14, 2010 9:16 AM | Link to this
Realistically, they must look at the relation of the item (space shuttle) to the museum or location desiring the item. Houston (mission control) and Cape Canaveral (launch site) are hands down ahead of Dayton. I see the Smithsonian and Dayton somewhat tied because of the notoriety of the Smithsonian. So, if there are 4 shuttles up for display, we should be in. If 3, well, it will be a struggle. Dayton is Dayton. We all need to remember that. We are in a DYING CITY. This is a fact.
By Mark W
August 16, 2010 1:23 AM | Link to this
Just FYI - Out here in Seattle, the Museum of Flight is also making a pitch, touting its education mission, the local aerospace industry involvement with the shuttle program, the fact that 27 shuttle astronauts have come throught the program at Washington State U, and its Seattle and West Coast locations. Check out the museum’s website for its pitch to compare/contrast with Dayton’s.
By GIL
August 16, 2010 10:12 AM | Link to this
AIR FORCE MUSEUM-DAYTON-WRIGHT PAT SHOULD GET ONE OF THE SHUTTLES. NEW YORK INTREPID MUSEUM SHOULD ALSO GET ONE. THESE ARE PRINCIPLE LOCATIONS WITH HIGH TOURSIT PARTICIPATION. ASIDE FROM WASHINGTON, D.C.? WHY PUT A SHUTTLE IN A LITTLE KNOW MUSEUM IN AN OUT OF WAY SPORT.