NYT: Group Says NASA Budget Cuts Will Damage Science Programs

[DeepModem Mom]

Group Says NASA Budget Cuts Will Damage Science Programs
By WARREN E. LEARY
Published: June 8, 2005


WASHINGTON, June 7 - The proposed NASA budget cuts for Earth and space science will decimate programs that are finally giving people an understanding of the complex world on which they live, a scientific group said Tuesday.

In releasing a position statement, the group, the American Geophysical Union, said the United States' leadership in Earth and space science was at risk because of financial demands on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration that had caused the agency to cut science programs to finance human spaceflight.

"There are indications that Earth and space sciences have become a lower priority at NASA," said the statement from the group, which represents more than 43,000 scientists who study the land, sea and air from space to below the surface. "NASA's proposed 2006 budget reduces science research by $1.2 billion over the next five years, a dramatic change."...

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Cutting back on Earth science, (Dr. John A. Orcutt of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography in San Diego) said, endangers significant progress that has been made in understanding the environment over the last few decades and hampers innovative research.

"Missions being eliminated or subject to long delays include inexpensive Explorer-class satellites for space science and Pathfinder missions for Earth science, which are innovative next steps in what we need to study," he said later. "When you look to the future, there's not much in the pipeline to replace many of the satellites operating now when they reach the end of their lives."...


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/08/politics/08nasa.html

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. We don't need no stinking science.

Our great Pretzeldent will get his good friend God to take care of everything.

[WindRavenX]

2. pfffft...what has science done for us?

Besides, those NASA nerds probably all belive in "evolution"...:eyes:

[johncoby2]

3. So? We are going to Mars!!!!

So everyone thinks.

The Mars mission alone is going to cost over $400 Billion. Where the hell are we going to get that money? Someone?

According to tom delay, it will come from doubling our economy in the next 5 years. Yea right.

Maybe it will come from homeland security funds. DeLay said they have so much money, they cant give it away! (Speech at NASA last week)

[Erika]

4. Bush has no interest in science

They didn't contribute to him.