WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes the substantial scientific, economic, and educational benefit and future potential of Hawaii's aerospace industry; and

WHEREAS, over the past four decades, the State of Hawaii has engaged in and directly benefited from a variety of aerospace-related initiatives, including astronomical research, planetary exploration, astronaut training, space-based mineralogical and oceanographic mapping, the development of advanced global communications and remote sensing systems, terrestrial and oceanic resource monitoring, vulcanological and meteorological studies, space camp activities for Hawaii's youth, the Hawaii Space Grant College program for undergraduate and graduate students, and other university and private sector-based research, education, and training programs; and

WHEREAS, these initiatives have been funded by and continue to receive annual support that exceeds $60,000,000 for university-based programs alone from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation, the United States Department of Commerce, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the United States Department of Energy, the United States Department of Defense, and other federal and private agencies and institutions nationwide; and

WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii, by virtue of its diverse natural resources, resident scientific and technological expertise, unique geographical terrain, and strategic mid-Pacific location, is very well positioned to continue to develop, grow, and sustain new aerospace-related programs and activities statewide; and

WHEREAS, in 2004, President George W. Bush outlined the United States' vision for future space exploration, setting forth goals and objectives to advance the United States' scientific, security, and economic interests through a robust national space program, including future robotic and manned missions to the moon and Mars; and

WHEREAS, in concert with this vision, considerable resources will need to be devoted to the development, testing, and evaluation of new technologies to support both robotic and human space missions; the training of scientists, engineers, and astronauts to help design and implement these missions; and the education of the general public on the opportunities and benefits of space exploration; and

WHEREAS, to enable and facilitate these activities, there is an urgent need to develop earth-based analogue missions that can:

WHEREAS, the federal National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2006 enables the development of ground-based analog capabilities in remote locations in America to assist in the development of lunar operations, life support, and in-situ resource utilization experience and capabilities; and

WHEREAS, these locations will be selected in accordance with their accessibility, significant temperature extremes, access to energy and natural resources, including geothermal and volcanic energy, and ability to involve local populations, academia and industrial partners to ensure that ground-based benefits and applications are encouraged and developed; and

WHEREAS, the volcanic soils and lunar-like terrain, diverse multi-ethnic population, and substantial scientific and technical expertise found in Hawaii make the islands an ideal location to support international programs for testing and evaluating innovative technologies to support future robotic and manned exploration of the moon and Mars, as well as for training scientists, engineers, and future astronauts for such missions; and

WHEREAS, these strategic assets were previously used in the late 1950s and early l960s to train astronauts, test and evaluate equipment, and educate the general public in preparation for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Apollo missions to the moon; and

WHEREAS, these assets closely match the selection criteria for ground-based analogue capabilities as set forth in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2006; and

WHEREAS, through the Japan-United States Science, Technology and Space Applications Program coordinated by the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, aerospace executives, university educators, and government officials from the United States and Japan has developed a comprehensive proposal to establish a Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the primary objectives of the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems are to facilitate astronaut training, aerospace education, and space technology testing and evaluation in Hawaii that would capitalize on the State's unique human, technological, and environmental resources to support robotic and human missions to the moon, Mars, and beyond; and

WHEREAS, these goals closely comport with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's objectives to establish remote sites with ground-analogue capabilities to support future space exploration missions; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, that this body, the Administration, and the University of Hawaii are strongly encouraged to work collaboratively with the Japan-United States Science, Technology and Space Applications Program, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and other public and private aerospace-related agencies and institutions, both national and international, to support the United States Space Exploration Program and help expand and diversify Hawaii's aerospace industry through the development of the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the primary objectives of this collaboration will be to enable the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems to:

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, through its Strategic Industries Division, is requested to provide a central point of contact to facilitate this collaboration; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is requested to report on the progress and status of this collaboration to the Legislature not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2007; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the President of the University of Hawaii, the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, and Hawaii's congressional delegation.

Report Title:

Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems