NASA Slashing Observations of Earth

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.

Comments

Re:I wonder...

[macadamia_harold]

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

Whenever you hear the phrase "Lead, Follow, or Get out of the Way", I'm guessing you "get out of the way"?

Nice to see that's the direction America is heading.

no wonder

[SUROK]

they have been owned by DIGITALGLOBE everyone can see the earth thanks to digitalglobe now. no body needs nasa

simple solution

[the_other_one]

Resubmit the grant applications:
1. replace all occurrences of "global warming" with "terrorists"
2. replace all occurrences of "crops" with "WMD's"
3. replace all occurrences of "fisheries" with "offshore oil resources"
4. ???
5. Profit

Re:The Global Warming Conspiracy...

[Max Littlemore]

You have been warned. Any comment that suggests that the proud an illustrious leader of all the Universe as appointed by God almighty is motivated by self interest or a narrow political ideology WILL be moderated Flamebait no matter how amusing.

...mostly because we're all really scared

Vote for him up there so we don't have to vote f..

[Tablizer]

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.

Perhaps he is looking for Martains to support his "surge". Earthlings have pretty much puked all over the idea.

Re:I wonder...

[Kierthos]

Um, because most countries can't do it? Ever heard of the vast space program that Kenya fields? No? There's a reason for that....

Hell, most 1st world countries don't have the budget the U.S. can play with and fritter away on pointless shit, much less important matters.

Re:nice troll, smitty

[Reverse Gear]

Yeah maybe it was put in a somewhat harsh way.
But really if you want to keep on saying that global warming is not happening or not caused by humans, then you don't want the scientist to get to much data to tell you otherwise if you can keep them from it do you?

I haven't RTFA but I would think the main use of but I would guess climate science is one of the main uses of these data acquired from NASA.

Now I guess I just said it even harsher, so you can mod me "-1 troll" instead if you feel like it ;)

Re:translation

[utopianfiat]

And you, as well.
Do raving bushbots have glowsticks? You know, for their raving.

Re:I wonder...

[alexhard]

4) Russia's space program, right now, seems to more focused on lobbing tourists into space, rather then studying the Earth. As for China... who knows? They could be interested in studying the Earth, but I really doubt it. Oh yeah, and actually building the frickin' ISS since you Americans aren't doing very much...