Appropriations Bill Threatens Future Space Science Missions

ColdWetDog writes "A brief story in the Atlantic notes that the U.S. Senate's energy appropriations bill has failed to supply funds to continue Plutonium-238 production, needed for radioisotope generators for NASA's interplanetary probe programs. No PU-238 means no more missions like Cassini-Huygens, or ones that go places where solar cells won't produce enough power. The article notes that the only other source of PU-238 is Russia — either through the government or through trolling through Siberia and the Russian coastline looking for old Soviet Era lighthouses and power stations."

Comments

Re:Read the writing on the wall

[Kenja]

Did you know that the senate and the office of the president are not the same things? Most of us had this explained in grade school, but it seems some where bussy eating paste.

It is the senate republicans that are trying to do away with all science, art, education and health care under the guise of fixing the budget. Not sure why they're doing it, but they do seem keen on the idea.