LOCAL FIRMS SURE TO PROFIT FROM PLAN SHOT INTO SPACE SHOT IN THE ARM FOR AEROSPACE.Byline: Nicholas Grudin Staff Writer VALENCIA - President George W. Bush's call Wednesday for renewed manned exploration of the moon and Mars will energize en·er·gize v. en·er·gized, en·er·giz·ing, en·er·giz·es v.tr. 1. To give energy to; activate or invigorate: "His childhood the Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, aerospace industry, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. company executives and city officials. In a speech delivered at National Aeronautics and Space Administration National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), civilian agency of the U.S. federal government with the mission of conducting research and developing operational programs in the areas of space exploration, artificial satellites (see satellite, artificial), headquarters in Houston, Bush called his plan a ``new course for America's space program.'' Among the program's ambitious goals are plans to send astronauts to the moon, complete the International Space Station and eventually use the moon to launch missions further into space. In expanding NASA's reach, the plan also could bolster one of Santa Clarita's anchor industries: aerospace. ``It will bring new jobs, both directly and indirectly, to Santa Clarita; it will be a tremendous economic boon to the whole region,'' said Gail Ortiz, spokeswoman for the city of Santa Clarita. ``It will affect a lot of companies, and I'm sure there will be new business born out of the new industry.'' Santa Clarita is home to dozens of aerospace businesses, from boutique parts manufacturers to gigantic test facilities. And executives at many of them were excited Wednesday. ``It's good for our employees - we'll get more work,'' said Earl Bayless, founder and president of Bayless Engineering, which sells parts to companies that build aerospace equipment. ``More machines will get sold as work trickles down, which means an upswing Upswing An upward turn in a security's price after a period of falling prices. in business for us and the people we use. We're a sheet metal shop in the industrial center with more than 100 employees. We're advertising for more workers today.'' However, some in the industry remain concerned that the federal government's spending should stay on Earth. ``It's a double-edged sword,'' said Todd Strickland, president of Canyon Engineering Products in Santa Clarita, which designs and manufactures fluid control parts for water pumps used in space, including technology on the International Space Station. ``It's exciting in the aspect that we could see a boost in the aerospace industry as it relates to space travel. However, the flip side Flip side In the context of general equities, opposite side to a proposition or position (buy, if sell is the proposition and vice versa). of the coin is that we have so many fiscal problems domestically - we have so much financial responsibility here - the burden of the war, health care, education, deficit. ``Of course it's exciting for people in the aerospace industry, but it would be egocentric egocentric /ego·cen·tric/ (-sen´trik) self-centered; preoccupied with one's own interests and needs; lacking concern for others. e·go·cen·tric adj. to focus just on that aspect. Fiscally, it's not the right time.'' Nicholas Grudin, (661) 257-5255 nicholas.grudin(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Todd Strickland, right, president of Canyon Engineering in Santa Clarita, and Michael Glukhov, senior project engineer, anticipate a financial boon from new NASA NASA: see National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA in full National Aeronautics and Space Administration Independent U.S. plans to explore space. David R. Crane/Staff Photographer |
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