In his weekly radio address President Bush said, “Two key challenges we face are reducing our dependence on oil and expanding access to affordable health care. I have asked Congress to take several vital steps to address these issues. … We’ve set important goals, and now Republicans and Democrats must work together to make them a reality. Together, we can reduce our dependence on oil, improve health care for more of our citizens, and make life better for all our citizens.”

In his weekly radio address President Bush said, “Americans are fortunate to have the best health care system in the world. The government has an important role to play in our system. We have an obligation to provide care for the most vulnerable members of our society — the elderly, the disabled, and poor children and their parents. We are meeting this responsibility through Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. We must strengthen these vital programs so that they are around when future generations need them.”

On 17 January, ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain met the press at ESA headquarters in Paris to take stock of the agency’s activities in 2006 and announce the main highlights for 2007. Last year saw ESA involved in a wide range of missions and activities related to space exploration, Earth observation, the Galileo navigation system and climate change. 2007 - the 50th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik - promises to be an exciting year. Scheduled flights include the automated ISS resupply craft, ATV-1, and the delivery of the Italian-built Node 2 and the Columbus lab to the ISS. The agency will be involved in many other activities, all of which aim to improve the lives of European citizens.
ESApod video programme

In his weekly radio address President Bush said, “Only the Iraqis can end the sectarian violence and secure their people. Their leaders understand this, and they are stepping forward to do it. But they need our help, and it is in our interests to provide that help. … Whatever our differences on strategy and tactics, we all have a duty to ensure that our troops have what they need to succeed. … I urge members of Congress to fulfill their responsibilities, make their views known, and to always support our men and women in harm’s way.”

In the historic city of Edinburgh, Scotland, ESA kicked off its series of stakeholder consultation workshops that will eventually inform the long-term European space exploration strategy. This is a key element in the preparation of the next ESA Council at Ministerial level and the space exploration activities that will be tabled for decision. This first workshop, hosted by the British National Space Centre (BNSC), saw the participation of over 170 people, from all over Europe, as well as US, Japan, Ukraine and Canada, in representation of the main stakeholder groups: the political, the scientific and the industrial sectors as well as the general public. The Edinburgh workshop comes at a timely moment, when the ambitions and plans of other space nations are becoming apparent and talks for an international framework for cooperation in space exploration is taking shape. The Scottish Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning and Members of the […]