Saturday, February 8, 2003
Space shuttle tragedy may hurt technology program
By AARON LONDON
NEWS-JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
PALM COAST — The tragic end to the voyage of space shuttle Columbia is expected to slow the pace of future launches, at least in the short term. The investigation to what caused the shuttle to disintegrate over Texalso could slow a technology transfer program that has infused more than $70 million into the U.S. economy over the past seven years.
The Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program, founded in 1995 to bring the benefit of technology advances from the space program to small-business owners, provides free technical assistance to entrepreneurs. The program has centers in Titusville, as well as in Texas, New Mexico and New York state.
Paul Secor, SATOP director, said the Columbia tragedy could have an impact on the program as alliance partners are called into the investigation of the shuttle disaster.
“I think we´ll see some of that occur,” he said. “However, one of the great things is that our program has evolved through time.”
Secor said the program expanded from its Titusville base in 2001 and is in better position to offer help to small-business owners.
“We are more than prepared to utilize our additional alliance partners not only in Florida but other places to solve any shortfall that may occur,” he said.
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