Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
GRAND FORKS – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Co-Chair of the Senate Space Force Caucus, gave a keynote address at Grand Farm and the University of North Dakota’s (UND) Space Ag Conference. During his remarks, he highlighted the intersection of space and agriculture and the key role North Dakota plays in research, innovation, and space exploration.
“It was a privilege to speak at the Space Ag Conference in Grand Forks and see so many participants from industry, government, and academia. Fostering growth at the intersection of space and agriculture is incredibly important, as solving challenges in space can also help solve challenges on earth. Having a conference like this, where we can bring all these different sectors together at one event is truly important and beneficial, not just for North Dakota and our government agencies, but for our country at large,” said Senator Cramer.
Senator Cramer talked about his visit to the Kennedy Space Center, which included a tour of UND’s Space Studies Department Chair Dr. Pablo de León’s ongoing research and design for spacesuits and space habitats at the Space Life Sciences Lab. The tour also featured the Artemis I lunar exploration program, the SpaceX hangar, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Veggie Program, and Swamp Works installation, which showcases new tools for deep space exploration.
“Being at NASA, touring Swamp Works, the Veggie Program, and spacesuit lab with Dr. Pablo de León is kind of like going on a tour of Graceland with Elvis. He is well-respected not only for his big brain and incredible contributions to science, but for being a really great guy,” said Senator Cramer.
He also participated in the Space Ag Workshop discussing how North Dakota small businesses can work with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and innovation in the AgTech industry. Senator Cramer emphasized the need to knock down barriers so every student, scientist, faculty member, and entrepreneur interested in the space industry can make a difference in the world. He advocated for investment in STEM education, research and development, and public-private partnerships.
“Some people might think the overlap of space and agriculture seems farfetched. Yet when you think about it, it’s really not farfetched at all. It’s quite significant. When you think about things every human in the world needs, things like energy and food, and you consider the fact farmable land is shrinking and technological advancements allow us to do more in a smaller space, a lot of this discovery takes place in space. Space agriculture, and the technology it creates, could catalyze the development of high-yield crop production requiring less land and less energy, ultimately providing farmers with the ability to create more with less,” said Senator Cramer. “The intersection of space and agriculture is significant, and the challenges associated with advancing the research and development in this sector require outside-the-box thinking. North Dakota is a nexus for this sort of growth and investment.”
Background:
Senator Cramer’s first space guest as a North Dakota Senator was former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. They toured the UND Space Program with Dr. Pablo de León, met with leaders of UND’s aerospace program to discuss their partnership with NASA, and participated in a town hall with UND Space Program students. UND is one of the few universities in the world to offer human spaceflight training and is the first university to operate a NASA-funded laboratory dedicated to designing and constructing space exploration and planetary surface exploration suits.
Senator Cramer was instrumental in the creation of the Space Force, securing its inclusion in the National Defense Authorization Act, which President Trump signed in December 2019. Since then, Senator Cramer has helped with its implementation, using his seat on SASC to work with space leaders and bring them to North Dakota to see the state’s space potential firsthand. This included Chief of Space Operations General Raymond’s first official trip as the leader of Space Force, where he visited the University of North Dakota’s School of Aerospace Sciences and the Cavalier Air Force Station.
In August 2021, UND became the first university to partner with the U.S. Space Force through its University Partnership Program, which will give students a chance to be on the frontlines of meeting the nation’s urgent space needs.
In September 2021, the Grand Forks Air Force Base was selected to operate a military satellite mission by the Space Development Agency (SDA). SDA will use the base as a center to monitor and maneuver Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites.
Senator Cramer also founded the bipartisan Senate Space Force Caucus and co-chairs it with Senators Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM).