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

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."

Comments

Re:Important to remember:

[Dishevel]

I am a fairly conservative guy with some libertarian leanings.
I love the stuff NASA used to do. I want to see NASA attempting the things that no one else can.
I want to see people become ok with risk.
I also believe in spirituality. Some type of God that I do not understand very well.
I believe that the teachings of Jesus were good.
I think that the temperature of the earth changes. That the climate has and will change.
I believe that at some point the earth will not support humanity and that we need to have permanent space colonies.

The left seems filled with hatred for the right. Truly spiritual christian types do not have a lot of time or room for hate.

Most of the hate I see comes from smelly people that that majored in Womens studies with a minor in Ethiopian tribal art and screaming about having student loan debit and no good prospects for a job.

You want higher education? Get a reasonable loan and work. Study something that can pay. Then take a bath.