Open Invitation to Lamar Smith, House Science Committee Chairman

**UPDATE**
Congressman Smith has agreed to come on the show, Friday, March 1.

Dear Representative Smith,

For the 22 years that Science Friday has been on the air, we have asked and welcomed the Chairman of the House Comittee on Science, Space, and Technology to be a guest on our program. From one Congress to the next, from Bush’s administration, to Clinton’s, to Bush’s, to Obama’s, Republican or Democrat, we have conversed with chairmen about scientific issues. That’s why I am extending, once again, an invitation to join us.

Pointing to the remarkable Friday in which a meteor exploded over Russia the same day that an asteroid almost hit Earth, you noted in a press release: “Today’s events are a stark reminder of the need to invest in space science.  Asteroid 2012 DA14 passed just 17,000 miles from Earth, less than the distance of a round trip from New York to Sydney.  And this morning, a much smaller meteorite hit near the Russian city of Chelyabinsk, damaging buildings and injuring hundreds.”

We at Science Friday would welcome the opportunity to chat with you about the details of your call to action: “Developing technology and research that enable us to track objects like asteroid 2012 DA14 is critical to our future. We should continue to invest in systems that identify threatening asteroids and develop contingencies, if needed, to change the course of an asteroid headed toward Earth.”

Scientists have been calling for the same kinds of action for many years. They have been looking for political leadership that you are offering.

We would welcome hearing your views on this issue and look forward to a positive response.

Sincerely,

Ira Flatow
Host/Executive Producer
Science Friday