New NASA Budget Woes

Abcd1234 writes "The last few months have seen NASA the focal point of high drama, the most obvious example being the controversy surrounding the next Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission. Well, the drama continues with NASA reporting to a Senate subcommitee that it currently faces a $2 billion budget shortfall which could result in the downsizing, delaying, or outright cancellation of a number of NASA missions, including the Space Interferometry Mission and Terrestrial Planet Finder, which may be delayed, and the James Webb Space Telescope, often cited as the successor to the HST, which faces potential cancellation. Among the reasons for the shortfall: cost overruns in a number of missions, including the shuttle return-to-flight program, resumption of the Hubble servicing mission, and mandated congressional expenditures (a.k.a 'pork')."

Comments

This is an unpopular opinion here, but...

[BeatlesForum.com]

I don't see any reason for government funding of NASA. I'd rather the government cut spending and lower my taxes (and I'm speaking to both democrats and republicans here - especially you, Mr. Bush). Federal spending has skyrocketed during my lifetime and I'd like the government to go back to basics - protect my freedom. Most any program beyond that - especially in the realm of space exploration, the arts, welfare and other communis^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H social programs - aren't part of the government's responsibility.