To the publisher: With all the respect due to the contributor of the guests Christopher Cokinos, our country can continue to finance NASA at its current levels where we can continue to finance SpaceX at its ever -increasing levels, but we cannot do both (“To move on where no space budget has been previously passed”, April 29).
Cokinos quotes Casey Dreier of the Pasadena -based planetary company saying: “This is an event in terms of extinction for the communities of the earth and space …” and it would probably be right. However, at the moment, I am more concerned with events of level of extinction already present which occur in the science of our land and its scientists. Yes, I believe that humans aspire to connection with the universe, but at the moment, most are probably aspired to a habitable attachment base.
Paula del Los Angeles
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To the publisher: When I was about 9 years old, my father took me to an open day in the former international Rockwell factory in Downey, where we could see games of the NASA space shuttle. I was impressed by the idea of traveling in space and I was told to pursue a career in this area, I would need to have solid experience in mathematics. As a result, mathematics have become my favorite material. A few years later, I graduated in mathematics and I had an enriching career as a math teacher in high school.
I often wonder how many other children my age have been inspired to pursue a career in mathematics and sciences due to the work of NASA. The decision not to invest in NASA hurts economically and does not serve our interests in the development of the next generation of STEM professionals.
Jason Y. Calizar, Torrance
