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NASA Exploring 8 New Space Expeditions
coondoggie writes "NASA is trying to decide among eight space exploration missions that include further exploring Venus and comet composition as well landing on an asteroid or examining the space around Jupiter. The space agency today began accepting solicitations for these space exploration opportunities and will ultimately pick one of them to begin perusing in 2009 with a launch date targeted at 2018. The solicitations and ultimate expedition are part of NASA's New Frontiers program, which has as its main objective to explore the solar system with medium-class spacecraft missions that will conduct high-quality, focused scientific investigations, NASA said. The first New Frontiers mission was selected in 2003 and will result in the launch of Juno, a Jupiter polar orbiter mission set to blast off in 2011."
I am a skydiver, you insensitive clod!
It could also fund aids or cancer research. Or feed a large number of those people who could eat for 60 cents a day, if that's for real. Or provide full-ride scholarships for millions of students. Or it could buy an insane number of OLPC's and actually make the organization viable. I'm with you in questioning whether the Big Three auto makers should get the money, but I have a long list of causes I'd rather see get 400 billion before I get to NASA.
Since I'm a relatively poor college graduate, #1 on my list would be paying off people's student loans and mortgages. For me, that would be better news than the RIAA being declared a terrorist organization.