In a previous blog post, I celebrated Wisconsin as an astronomical center. Forward-thinking politicos in the Dairy State want to create Spaceport Sheboygan — a private spaceport that will launch spacecraft carrying satellites, space-station payloads, and tourists. Why not? Sheboygan is more than a sibling of Walla Walla and Cucamonga as funny-sounding city names delivered by comedians working the Borscht Belt .
While researching the spaceport's evolution, I found that Wisconsin formed a space authority board. This group "is authorized to develop spaceports, spacecraft and other aerospace facilities in this state, to provide spaceport and aerospace services and allow use of spaceport and aerospace facilities by others, to promote the aerospace industry in this state and to provide public-private coordination for the aerospace industry in this state."
Governor Doyle's office appoints members for six of the nine positions on this board, two of which are open. I have submitted my name to the governor's office for consideration. Appointment to this board is my dream. The only board I ever thought I could associate with is a game board or the business end of a parole board.
So without any business savvy or aeronautic experience, why should I receive the honor? Well, the best explanation comes from Bob Berman's April 2007 column. Simply put, I'm a "we":
"Humans naturally wonder: What do we do next? And by ‘we' I don't mean the ‘we' who watch TV lying down because it's too much trouble to sit up. I mean the ‘we' who discovered penicillin, built the pyramids, and invented trash bag twist-ties. The brilliant ‘we.' The ‘we' who launched GPS, rather than the ‘we' who cranked the Titanic's engines to full speed in seawater the temperature of a Slurpee.
Are you ‘we?' Absolutely. Aren't you full of ideas how to spend astronomy dollars if Congress bewilderingly put you in charge?"
If you would like to support my candidacy, please contact the governor's office here. If so, I'll do my best to punch your space ticket from Sheboygan.