PORT CANAVERAL -- Space workers are set to protest a senate committee hearing Monday morning featuring both of Florida's U.S. Senators, over the possibility the workers could soon be left unemployed.
Senators Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez were expected to question NASA and local leaders about Brevard County's future once the space shuttle fleet retires in less than two years.
A group called Link to Launch planned to rally just before the meeting is scheduled to start.
Organizers of the demonstration, including Dale Ketcham, said taking away space shuttle jobs would hurt everyone in the country.
"It's going to show up in church collection plates, little league registration, fundraising for the zoo, Meals on Wheels, arts," Ketcham said.
The rally organizers hoped to get the attention of the presidential candidates, causing them to take another look at the space program.
"The keys to the Oval Office are at the Kennedy Space Center," Ketcham said.
Shutting down the shuttle program could put some 6,400 workers at the Kennedy Space Center out of a job. Add to that workers in local restaurants, hotels and other industries dependant upon the space center, and Ketcham said that number skyrockets.
"You have not 6,400 jobs at risk, but you have either 16,000 jobs at risk with the smaller number, or 22,000 jobs that will be lost in east Central Florida," Ketcham explained. "That's 22,000 families in this community that will be severely impacted."
The U.S. House has already approved an extra shuttle flight. That question goes to the Senate, but Monday's rally was only aimed at the two senators who would need Florida's 27 electoral votes in November.
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