[LEAPSECS] LEAPSECS Digest, Vol 61, Issue 15

[Finkleman, Dave]

The response takes more than an email.  Read our AAS paper delivered in
Toronto in August 2010.  I don't remember the number, but Google will
work.  There is a long matrix of impacts, most of which have nothing to
do with looking for things in the sky.  I am not an astronomer nor is my
colleague John Seago, a strong presence in the debate.  

Taking advantage of posting something, the "national" positions on this
issue are political, not technical positions.  The US Department of
State represents the Administration, which is not the same as
representing the country or the people.  Although the US DoS must
convene Industrial Technical Advisory Committees (ITAC), these have
little influence.  The support teams convened to help the designated DoS
representative on an international policy matter are overwhelmingly from
government agencies.  It is ironic that most of the rationale offered in
this digest over many years was rejected by the US DoS delegation as
"non-technical."    

The situation in China is without much doubt political, not technical;
as it was before China changed its mind. 


Dave Finkleman
Senior Scientist
Center for Space Standards and Innovation
Analytical Graphics, Inc.
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