VIERA -- U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and Brevard County leaders met Monday to try and figure out how to save jobs -- and the county's economy -- when the space shuttle was retired in 2010.
Some 6,400 workers at the Kennedy Space Center were slated to lose their jobs. See previous story.
That prompted Brevard Commissioners to meet with Nelson, and congressmen Tom Feeney and Dave Weldon.
Debate centered around bringing more comercial space ventures to the Kennedy Space Center, and shortening the space flight gap after the shuttle.
Sen. Nelson (D) said the best way to save jobs in Brevard was by convincing the three presidential candidates to get on board.
"The next president is going to decide a lot of this. Brevard County and east Central Florida has an oportunity to influence the next president," Nelson said. "At the end of the day Florida's going to be important this November."
Congressman Weldon has already introduced the so-called "Space Act" into Congress.
The act would extend the shuttle program until its replacement is ready.
Weldon said he was gaining some support, but it was a big challenge.
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