Projects: S.O.S: Save Our Science!
The Fight for Science and Exploration
February 13, 2006
NASA has jumped the gun. Although the fiscal year 2007 budget does not take effect before October 2006, and Congress has not even approved it, NASA has already begun canceling 2006 research projects and mission studies, including the mission to Europa. Even programs Congress has voted into law are being "delayed indefinitely".
Together with The Planetary Society, you can stop this from happening. We are asking Congress to intervene and direct NASA not to cancel programs before the Congress has to chance to consider them.
Gone (delayed indefinitely, in NASA-speak):
- Mission to Europa
- Terrestrial Planet Finder
- Mars Scout missions after 2011
- Mars Sample Return
- Mars Telecommunications Orbiter
- DAWN -- mission to two largest asteroids
Slashed (scaled back):
- Astrobiology research -- down 50%
- Research and analysis -- down 15%
These cuts are laid out in NASA's proposed fiscal year 2007 budget -- but the Administration is taking action to make them apply retroactively! Scientists working on projects funded in the 2006 budget, passed into law by the U.S. Congress, are already being told to stop work -- before Congress has a chance to act on the 2007 budget request.
And what about the future? NASA plans over the next five years to cut $3 billion from science. NASA officials admit that science is being forced to pay the bill to keep the space shuttle flying. |
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