To boldly go where no Canadian has gone before

Calgary Herald: Giannuzzi: To boldly go where no Canadian has gone before

Respect for Canada abroad is a fast-diminishing commodity nowadays. Trendoids hate us for bashing seals and developing the oilsands. Some of our allies are upset at our imminent exit from a combat role in Afghanistan while plenty of other people are furious we sent troops in the first place.

There's no shortage of gripes against us and the days when we could win plaudits for being the genial conciliator and everybody's friend have long fled.

The best way to reclaim some shreds of old glory is to head in an entirely new direction and one has just presented itself: space science. A few weeks ago, U.S. President Barack Obama announced a new direction for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Obama cancelled the Constellation program, which had included the development of a suite of launch vehicles and spacecraft meant to allow humans to return permanently to the moon and Mars.

The replacement plan will see the International Space Station -- to which Canada contributes -- kept aloft until 2020, which is only fitting since it's taken practically forever to build the thing. We ought to get some scientific return on our investment. More importantly, Obama's plan bumps up NASA's budget and includes $1.3 billion to help the private sector come up with cheaper ways to get astronauts into orbit.

This is Canada's opportunity to get in on the action. Canadians know about and are justly proud of the two Canadarms the Canadian Space Agency has contributed to the International Space Station. However, fewer people are aware that the CSA lacks solid goals for the future, beyond a few plans to develop some cheap Martian rovers and next-generation remote sensing satellites. With a budget of $497 million over the next five years, dreams on a grander scale are impossible.

The Canadian government should think about ramping this up, if not quite to NASA levels, to allow researchers room to innovate. The expansion of the private space industry will provide Canadian researchers with unprecedented chances to collaborate and develop new skills in niche areas, guaranteeing us a pivotal place in the next stage of space exploration.

Other countries are working on satellites and rovers already. Canada needs to position itself to profit from unforeseen technical challenges arising as private space travel matures. We can develop a much bigger space industry and reap the economic benefits. For benefits there will be.

Going into space still doesn't make sense purely in dollar terms, but fortunately, this outward urge is being driven by a force which scoffs at red ink: national pride.

The definitive geopolitical rivalry of the 21st century is that between America and China. Both are prickly, ambitious and looking to trump each other wherever possible. Space is one arena where this not-quite-Cold War rivalry will play out. China plans to build a space station and develop a lunar lander and rover, seeing space exploration as a source of prestige and pride to mark the country's coming of age as a superpower. In return, Americans are getting increasingly leery about Chinese ambitions and view an active space program as a vital part of their national security.

As China expands its presence in orbit, expect the Americans to look for reliable partners to share the costs, technologies and benefits of space exploration wherever possible. Who better than us to lend the Yanks a helping hand?

There is no shortage of reasons to send humans to space, from the practical (keeping all your eggs in one basket is a bad idea) to the romantic (let's see what's out there), but ultimately, it's good old tribalism and profiteering that will drive us beyond the Earth. The opportunities and acclaim are ours for the taking, if only we dare.

Tim Giannuzzi is a Calgary columnist who specializes in foreign affairs.