U.S. In Danger of Losing Earth-Observing Satellite Capability

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U.S. In Danger of Losing Earth-Observing Satellite Capability

Posted by Soulskill on Monday May 7, 2012 @05:50AM from the well-that's-embarrassing dept.

New submitter crazyjj writes "As reported in Wired, a recent National Research Council report indicates a growing concern for NASA, the NOAA, and USGS. While there are currently 22 Earth-observing satellites in orbit, this number is expected to drop to as low as six by the year 2020. The U.S. relies on this network of satellites for weather forecasting, climate change data, and important geologic and oceanographic information. As with most things space and NASA these days, the root cause is funding cuts. The program to maintain this network was funded at $2 billion as recently as 2002, but has since been scaled back to a current funding level of $1.3 billion, with only two replacement satellites having definite launch dates."

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No Problem by Anne_Nonymous · 2012-05-07 05:55 · Score: 5, Funny

We'll just outsource it all to India and China.
Simple solution by wcrowe · 2012-05-07 05:58 · Score: 4, Funny

This is a simple problem to solve. All they have to do is label the satellites as "anti-terrorist", or something like that, and they'll get all the funding they need.

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Proverbs 21:19
1. Re:Simple solution by crazyjj · 2012-05-07 06:08 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Congressman: So this satellite...
  NASA: The "A-TOP" Anti-Terrorist Observation Platform, sir.
  Congressman: It says it's for observing terrorists, but it looks like it's for monitoring the weather...
  NASA: It's for monitoring terrorist efforts to use the weather as a weapon, sir.
  Congressman: They can do that?!?
  NASA: They're very clever, sir.
  
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  What political party do you join when you don't like Bible-thumpers *or* hippies?
The answer is to CUT TAXES by Anonymous Coward · 2012-05-07 06:00 · Score: 5, Funny

1. Cut Taxes
2. ????
3. Jesus Comes
Re:Important to remember: by YrWrstNtmr · 2012-05-07 06:01 · Score: 5, Funny

There is a group of people in the US Congress who just hate anything that the "other side" supports. It does not matter what it is they will work against anything that they think the other side wants to support.

There are 536 people in this 'group'.
Re:AC In Danger of Losing First-Posting Capability by Beardo+the+Bearded · 2012-05-07 06:15 · Score: 5, Funny

We don't need no fancy satellites -- I bet they were dreamed up by some liberal thinker at a UNIVERSITY.
Jesus and the Bible tell us everything we need to know about climate changes, and that's that the world is going to burn. Judgment Day is approaching and those who aren't saved are going to burn to death forever.
USA! USA! USA!

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ECHELON is a government program to find words like bomb, jihad, plutonium, assassinate, and anarchy.
Re:Makes sense by crazyjj · 2012-05-07 06:19 · Score: 3, Funny

Don't knock the F-22. It's a great plane--as long as the person flying it doesn't need oxygen, anyway.

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What political party do you join when you don't like Bible-thumpers *or* hippies?
Re:A perfect example by TubeSteak · 2012-05-07 06:48 · Score: 5, Funny

A perfect example of Short-Sightedness.
No doubt the free market will step in and launch satellites that are better, faster, and cheaper.
But you'll have to pay for it.
But there's a silver lining to this cloud!.
At least people will stop blaming the government for not predicting hurricanes and tornados!

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[Fuck Beta]
o0t!