SPACE TRAVEL SPACE DAILY SPACE WAR TERRA DAILY MARS DAILY SPACE MART GPS DAILY ENERGY DAILY
  Space Travel News  
Get Our Free Newsletters Via Email
  
Search All Our Sites at SpaceBank
Thousands Sign Planetary Society Petitions to Save Our Science

Is space science the only game in town that matters in the long term.
by Staff Writers
Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 05, 2006
The Planetary Society reports progress in its "Save Our Science (SOS)" Campaign to rescue NASA's space science program, currently under attack in the proposed NASA budget for fiscal year 2007.

The Society is continuing to promote the campaign via the International Space Development Conference in Los Angeles.

Thousands of concerned members of the public have already signed the Society's petition and written their Congressional representatives in a nationwide SOS on behalf of planetary exploration.

"Budget action is needed now," said Planetary Society Vice-President Bill Nye, "The longer you drive in the wrong direction, the longer it'll take you to get where you really want to go."

"The proposed NASA budget would not only severely cut back planetary science and exploration," added Louis Friedman, Executive Director of The Planetary Society, "but completely undermines the promised 'Vision for Space Exploration'- removing its science component and its Mars goal."

The proposal, submitted by the Bush Administration for NASA, would slash $3 billion from the planned exploration of the solar system as well as from space science research and analysis.

The SOS petition demonstrates to Congress and the Administration the strong public support that exists for planetary exploration, fueled by the success of such NASA science missions as the Hubble Space Telescope, the Mars Exploration Rovers, Deep Impact, Cassini-Huygens, and Stardust.

Just how bad is the new proposal? The following missions will be killed if the proposed budget passes:

  • Europa mission - a prime candidate for finding life beyond Earth
  • Terrestrial Planet Finder - a search for Earth-like worlds elsewhere in the galaxy
  • Mars Sample Return mission and all precursor activities for human exploration of the Red Planet.
  • Mars Telecommunications Orbiter - to relay lander data and begin an infrastructure for future Mars exploration
  • The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) - an airborne infrared observatory

    In addition, the budget cuts astrobiology, the study of and search for life beyond earth, by a full 50%. University research funding also would be cut 15% across the board, eliminating many bright young people from the field of space science.

    "The future of scientific exploration of space is at risk," said Wesley

    T. Huntress, Planetary Society Chairman. "The budget decision Congress makes today will affect planetary exploration and research for decades to come."

    The public can demonstrate their support for space science by signing the SOS petition.

    Related Links
    SOS Campaign

    AAS Pushing NASA To Rethink Its FY 2007 Budget
    Washington DC (SPX) May 05, 2006
    The American Astronomical Society, unsatisfied with some of the specifics of NASA's proposed fiscal year 2007 budget, has been urging the agency to rethink its priorities and reconstitute some of the space science programs it had decided to eliminate, postpone or curtail.

       Add to Delicious





  • Memory Foam Mattress Review

    Newsletters :: SpaceDaily Express :: SpaceWar Express :: TerraDaily Express :: Energy Daily
    XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News
  • Rocket Engine Roars Into Fourth Decade Of Launch Success
  • Stennis Celebrates 40 Years Of Engine Testing
  • NASA Achieves LOX-Methane Test-Firing Milestone
  • New Tools Will Simplify Efforts To Analyze Space Travel Concepts

  • Defence Minister Expedites Preparations For Launching Military Satellite
  • Successful Launch Of Swedish Maxus 7 Sounding Rocket
  • Sea Launch Contracts To Launch Intelsat Americas-9
  • NASA Gets Cloud Satellites Off The Ground

  • Discovery Scheduled For Important Move
  • NASA Tests Updated Rocket Motor For Shuttle
  • NASA Still Aiming For July Flight For Shuttle
  • NASA Cuts Shuttle Mission Spacewalks By One

  • NASA Extends Boeing Station Contract
  • Next Space Station Crew Selected
  • European Space Station Module Columbus Takes Step Closer To Launch
  • Station Crew Will Try Orbit Boost Again

  • NASA Communications Chief Resigns
  • Thousands Sign Planetary Society Petitions to Save Our Science
  • AAS Pushing NASA To Rethink Its FY 2007 Budget
  • Matsuda Plays Down Japanese Human Spaceflight

  • China Welcomes NASA Chief But Calls On US To Be More Open
  • US And China To Discuss Space Cooperation
  • China To Build A Space Station After Shenzhou 7
  • China Plans Third Manned Space Flight To Fly In September 2008

  • Are Robots The Answer To Immigration
  • Robots Embedded At School In Quest To Bond With Humans
  • Friendly Robots Want To Do Your Chores
  • Students Win Robotics Basketball Tournament

  • North Dakota Researchers Testing Spacesuit For Mars
  • Spirit Looks Back Up Husband Hill
  • Opportunity Encounters Rolling Ripples
  • Wildblue Helps Advance Mission To Planet Red

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement