Penn State students and faculty members are reacting to whether recent announcements by the Bush administration involving space exploration are valid goals or a political move.

President Bush proposed this month to expand the space program by putting another astronaut on the moon and sending a manned mission to Mars.

"It's probably no coincidence that Bush's plans were announced in an election year. You have to look at everything the administration does this year through the lens of the election next fall," said Lisa Brown, director of the Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium.

"It's certainly very exciting news, though. I'm definitely seeing signs of additional interest on the part of students," Brown added.

Brown said even though space exploration seems to be more popular because of media coverage, the ideas aren't new.

"The recent attention is out of context. I think it's slightly exaggerated because of the Mars announcement. [It] makes it seem huge, but space interest groups have been advocating this type of announcement for years," Brown said.

Jane Charlton, professor of astronomy and astrophysics, said that space exploration is a combination of politics, showmanship, science and the explorer instinct of human beings. She said space programs do a great deal for science in general because they inspire people, get kids involved in science and make people interested in their role in the universe.

However, Jessica Hopkins, Penn State College Democrats president, said she thinks it's obviously a political move.

"Space exploration is important, and I think we should keep doing it. But I think he's trying to put a check in the ballot box," Hopkins said.

Penn State College Republicans President Brian Battaglia said it is not a political move because the issue will not have a big impact in people's minds or win them over in the election.

"I think people are trying to put it up as a political move, but this is Bush's way to capture people's imagination. It's almost like what Kennedy did in the '60s. Personally, I think it's something he's doing as leader of this technologically advanced country, as something that every person wants to do, not as a political move," Battaglia said.

It may seem as though space exploration comes with a high price tag, but in the long run, it has the potential to draw more money to science and research in general, Charlton said.

Julie Premji (senior-accounting and international business) said she understands the economic argument but also supports space exploration.

"I think they should split the money evenly between what they want to do in space and trying to solve problems in our own country," Premji said.

Brown said she thinks it's a false argument to suggest a choice needs to be made between space exploration and other needs on Earth.

"It offers students an inspiring backdrop for everything we do on a daily basis," Brown said.

Derek Schoiack (senior-mechanical engineering) said many people don't seemed concerned with issues in space.

"But I think technology in space could go towards life on Earth," he said.