The Planetary Society Presents Petition to Congress

For Immediate Release
November 13, 2002

Contact
Mat Kaplan
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +1-626-793-5100

The Planetary Society has presented the full Congress with a petition signed by 10,000 supporters, urging the House and Senate to support increases in funding for the exploration of the outer planets. The funds are included in the proposed 2003 NASA budget, recommended by the House Sub-Committee on Appropriations for VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies. The additional funds will enable NASA to move ahead with the New Horizons mission to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt, and to re-start development on a Europa orbiter.

"It is remarkable that in these times, when the country is preoccupied with extraordinary issues of security, liberty, and the economy, that so much public attention is still paid to the exploration of distant regions of the solar system," said Louis Freidman, Executive Director of The Planetary Society, in a letter to Congress. "This in itself, we believe, is both a symbol and a manifestation of America's strength."

Both missions address fundamental questions about the nature and evolution of our solar system. A recent study by the National Academy of Sciences, the Solar System Decadal Survey, gave both missions its highest priority recommendation.

Some 10,000 persons signed The Planetary Society petition, which advocates a vigorous program of science and exploration, including missions to Pluto and Europa. The petition also advocated a concrete and far-sighted plan for the International Space Station that includes a human exploration component.

For the past two years, The Planetary Society has led the public campaign for exploration of the outer solar system, especially in regards to missions to Pluto and Europa. For more information, visit the Society's website.

About The Planetary Society

With a global community of more than 2 million space enthusiasts, The Planetary Society is the world’s largest and most influential space advocacy organization. Founded in 1980 by Carl Sagan, Bruce Murray, and Louis Friedman and today led by CEO Bill Nye, we empower the public to take a meaningful role in advancing space exploration through advocacy, education outreach, scientific innovation, and global collaboration. Together with our members and supporters, we’re on a mission to explore worlds, find life off Earth, and protect our planet from dangerous asteroids. To learn more, visit www.planetary.org.

###