NEW SPACE SCIENCES BUILDING 177

Maryland has, since its inception, been an active partner in our
nation's space program. The Glenn L. Martin Company of Middle
River, near Baltimore, has pioneered in the development of those
rockets whose tremendous thrusts are necessary to propel man into
space. Smaller and less conspicuous industries, scattered throughout
the State, are engaged in the development and fabrication of the
sensitive and highly complex equipment components vital to the
conquest of space.

Maryland's private and public universities are deeply involved in
the essential research which will assure the quality and control of
our nation's space program. Over 75, 000 square feet of space and
some of the most sophisticated equipment ever constructed, housed in
the Space Sciences Building, represent the latest, tangible contribution
to this effort to explore the universe.

To date, our State, with the benefit of Federal funds and private
enterprise, has played a major role in our nation's greatest endeavor
— the conquest of space. The State government has not been a pas-
sive partner, and I would be remiss and unjust to claim that such was
the case. However, I believe, State government has barely scratched
the surface in its efforts to buttress, fortify and encourage the par-
ticipation of Maryland's citizens and industry in the space program.
While we must make every effort to assist in the expansion of the
State's private space industry and to finance research at the graduate
level, we must enlarge educational programs at the undergraduate
level. We must provide vocational high school training and curricula
in community colleges that will assure a supply of skilled and com-
petent laboratory technicians and industrial workers as a vital com-
plement to the existing cadre of space oriented manpower.

We must begin exciting our children in the primary grades in the
challenges, qualifications, and opportunities of participation in the
scientific exploration of the universe, so that they will be motivated
to channel their intellectual energies in this direction. While this
program may seem extraordinarily ambitious in scope, it is only com-
mensurate with the awesome objectives of our nation's space program.
And if the construction of special facilities and the supply of complex
equipment is a costly investment, it can be justified in terms of en-
lightened self-interest. For if Maryland's space industries are to grow,
we must nourish the roots. Industry itself, I am certain, will become
an active partner in this effort, contributing essential technical advice
as to curricula and, hopefully, a share of the complex equipment
necessary to train skilled and responsible workers for the factories.