Bush’s legacy of space exploration felt in Southern Colorado

While former President Bush influenced politics in countless ways, one of his biggest passions was in space exploration. It’s a push that Colorado Springs has directly seen the impact of.

Long before George H.W. Bush became the nation’s 41st President, he was the Vice President in the Ronald Reagan Administration, but even then, he showed his commitment to exploring outer space.

In the wake of the Challenger Space Shuttle tragedy, Bush was able to bring the nation together and push forward for America’s return to flight.

“He was the first person to literally engage the families as to what did they want to do in following on the Challenger mission. Bush was also someone that President Reagan leaned on very much to get America back flying again,” said Rich Cooper, of the Space Foundation in Colorado Springs.

When Bush did become president in 1989, he began the Space Exploration Initiative. Cooper believes his direct involvement shaped America’s future in space.

“Creating the National Space Council as well as opening up some of the things we’re enjoying now with the international space station, the relationship with Russia, etc,” Cooper said.

Many military installations in Colorado Springs deal directly with space. NORAD, for example, was specifically designed to track attacks, satellites or space launches.

Much of what they do today came from president bush’s belief in exploration.

“That was something he took a deep not only professional but personal interest in,” Cooper said.

Because of Bush’s devotion, we continue new efforts to explore the universe.

But his ties to Colorado Springs aren’t just in his devotion to outer space. President Bush also celebrated a wedding in Colorado Springs back in March at a venue overlooking Garden of the Gods.

Before that, he stayed at the Broadmoor Hotel in 1989 for a conference.