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NASA Slashing Observations of Earth

Posted by kdawson on from the blue-marble dept.

mattnyc99 points us to a new report by the National Research Council warning that, by 2010, the number of NASA's Earth-observing missions will drop dramatically, and the number of operating sensors and instruments on NASA spacecraft will decrease by 40 percent. The report says, "The United States' extraordinary foundation of global observations is at great risk." Popular Mechanics asks an MIT professor what it all means. From these accounts it is clear that the Bush administration's priorities on a Mars mission and a moon base are partly to blame for the de-emphasizing of earth science. Neither article quite says that some responsibility must fall to the administration's footdragging on global warming.

5 of 358 comments (clear)

  1. I wonder... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    They keep telling us that there are all these other countries out there -- has anyone proposed that some of the others could possibly do this, since it's so, y'know, important? Neither article quite says that, either.

    1. Re:I wonder... by Mike+Rubits · · Score: 2, Interesting

      While your condescending use of an expression is great and all, is there a reason another country CAN'T take this up? You didn't do much to answer the question.

    2. Re:I wonder... by Dr+Reducto · · Score: 4, Interesting

      So basically, America and Australia didn't sign Kyoto because they would be affected disproportionately, India and China signed because they wouldn't be affected (but their competitors would, and this would also slow energy demand from their competitors).

      It looks like for the most part, countries only signed where it was convenient and easy to do (SHOCKING!!! GOVERNMENTS ACTING IN THEIR OWN SELF INTEREST????), and now even a lot of European countries are missing quota.

      So in reality, it looks like no one was really serious about climate change, just looking out for themselves. It kind of puts the United States actions in perspective. Why should we shoulder the massive financial burden of "saving the world" while India and China destroy our manufacturing sector since they will be a haven for corporations who want to manufacture without stringent regulations for CO2 emissions.

      Like I said in my previous post, the only way global warming will be addressed is if there is some sort of global government. And that is why global warming will never be addressed. It's sad to say, but there is no way to convince most countries to do anything (unless the UN decided to impose economic/military actions on polluters, and even then, military action would require the United States to dfront all the money/personnnel for the military force)

  2. Perfect by Dr.+Eggman · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Nasa creates a market need, market blooms, Nasa leaves market, commercial space companies fulfil market need, commercial space companies bloom. 2010 maybe cutting it a little close, I would rather see a gradual transfer out, but either way I foresee mutual benefit.

    --
    Demented But Determined.
  3. Goresat can save the day! by Tablizer · · Score: 2, Interesting

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GORESAT

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    Table-ized A.I.