ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Two hero astronauts from Essex County are gravitating towards some very different endorsements for the 2024 presidential election.
Earlier this week, Buzz Aldrin announced that he is endorsing Donald Trump for president in the 2024 election. Aldrin – a Montclair native – touted advancements made in space exploration under the Trump administration. See Related: Hero Astronaut Stumps For Trump; Buzz Aldrin Explains His Pick
Meanwhile, another Essex County native – Mark Kelly of West Orange – recently made Kamala Harris’ short list of possible vice-presidential running mates. He is currently serving as a U.S. senator in Arizona, and continues to support Harris for president. See Related: Mark Kelly Among Finalists For Harris’ VP Pick, Reports Say
Both astronauts have schools named after them in their respective hometowns of Montclair and West Orange.
MARK KELLY: MARS WALK IN 20 YEARS?
A former NASA astronaut and shuttle commander, Kelly flew four space missions and spent over 50 days in space. He continues to push for the advancement of U.S. space capabilities, introducing federal legislation such as the SOAR Act and the LAUNCH Act during his time in the Senate.
Kelly – who is married to former congresswoman Gabby Giffords – was recently inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. His brother and identical twin, Scott Kelly, was inducted in 2020.
Kelly has also highlighted the evolving role of private companies like SpaceX in shaping U.S. space policy, and has spoken about how commercial partnerships have lowered the costs of space exploration and created “new strategic possibilities” for the United States and its allies.
In a 2023 interview between Kelly and Axios co-founder Mike Allen, the astronaut-turned-politician said it’s not “out of the question” that someone might walk on Mars within 20 years.
“A lot depends on the U.S. government, what we decide to focus on, how the Artemis missions to the moon go,” he said.
On Wednesday – the day that Aldrin announced his support for Trump – Kelly was in Tucson campaigning for Harris and her vice-president choice, Tim Walz.
“So grateful for all the Arizonans taking time out of their days to help us get out the vote!” he enthused.
Kelly has called the U.S. Space Force – which was created under the Trump administration – a “dumb idea,” criticizing the concept of creating yet more levels of federal bureaucracy.
“The Air Force does this already … That is their job,” he posted on social media in 2018. “What’s next, we move submarines to the 7th branch and call it the ‘under-the-sea force?’”
BUZZ ALDRIN: ‘HUMAN SPACE EXPLORATION WAS ELEVATED’
One of the first people to walk on the Moon disagrees with Kelly when it comes to the Space Force, however.
In fact, the creation of the newest branch of the military is a major reason why Buzz Aldrin is supporting Donald Trump in 2024, he said.
“Over time, I have seen our government’s approach to space wax and wane,” Aldrin wrote. “But under the first Trump administration, I was impressed to see how human space exploration was elevated as a policy of high importance again.
Under Trump’s first term, America saw a revitalized interest in space, and his administration reignited national efforts to get back to the Moon – and push on to Mars, Aldrin said.
“The Trump administration also reinstituted the National Space Council, and our nation’s defense was enhanced with the creation of the U.S. Space Force – increasingly important as space becomes a contested domain,” Aldrin wrote.
Like Kelly, Aldrin said that commercial space exploration has benefitted the nation.
“I have been enthused and excited by the great advancements in the private sector space economy, led by visionaries like Elon Musk,” Aldrin wrote. “These are concrete accomplishments that align with my concerns and America’s policy priorities.”
In 2019, Aldrin was invited to the Oval Office at the White House for a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of his historic Moon walk alongside Neil Armstrong. After the face-to-face, Aldrin posted a message that lit up the comments section of his Twitter page, which was promptly re-shared by former vice president Mike Pence.
“Just had an excellent meeting with President Donald Trump!” he wrote. “We discussed America’s future in space, ways to address space challenges, and the need to keep exploring beyond the horizon.”
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