Bush to make second major space speech

[United Press International]

WASHINGTON, May 10 (UPI) -- President George W. Bush plans
to make a major speech early this summer defending his plan for a
new U.S. space exploration initiative.
Administration sources told United Press International the
speech apparently will be timed to coincide with a report by the
presidential commission appointed earlier this year to review the
space plan and seek broad public comment. The commission is expected
to release that report in July.
Sources said despite the approaching presidential election,
the speech, which will reiterate Bush's call for advanced human
exploration of space, will not necessarily be made in a political
context.
"The president wants to speak about space," a senior
administration source said.
Sources said although there hasn't been widespread support
for the space plan since its debut, the president has felt no need
to rush to make additional public comments.
The sources said Bush has remained "highly enthusiastic"
about his space proposal and his lack of additional mention of the
idea should not be taken as a cooling of interest.