NASA S.O.S: Save Our Science!

http://planetary.org/programs/projects/sos/petition2.html ^

[M1Tanker]

Ok, I am lost. I thought the President was moving for a very aggressive exploration and scientific agenda for NASA? That whole Moon to Mars thing. Or is this just some group who wants to attack the President even though he supports their outward goals.

[truthfinder9]

The President was moving for a very aggressive exploration, but the proposed budget dosn't support that agrressive plan. We're too busy spending money on bridges to nowhere.

[stuartcr]

Wars are pretty expensive too.

[Beagle8U]

I have an idea. Let the scientists that think their work is so important, petition for private funding, or pay for it themselves.

[RightWhale]

NASA has done more than enough exploration and science to last for centuries. It is time to start using that quasi-valuable knowledge by establishing human outposts on the moon and Mars. Either that or repeal the Treaty so space development can begin.

[Arcy]

I'm not concerned at all with NASA's need of finances. They are a PRIVATE company that for years has received PUBLIC money. They have become so fat with public money over the years they have abandoned finance philosophies that govern private companies. They spend unaccountable millions and millions on experiments that will benefit no one.

Richard Branson (Virgin Air) launched two successive missions to space within 10 days of each. Thereby, demonstrating for all to see, the wastefulness and inefficiency of NASA. NASA can barely launch 2 mission within 6 months.

It's time to let REAL private companies lead the way to space and planetary exploration and let unaccountable slushes like NASA go the way of the dinosaur.

NASA will get no tears from me.

[The_Victor]

The President was moving for a very aggressive exploration, but the proposed budget dosn't support that agrressive plan.

So is the problem the President or Congress? Seems like we're petitioning the wrong people.

[Mazda3Fan]

Bingo! Thank you...

[Arcy]

AMEN!

[RightWhale]

Is it better to earmark or to simply hand $400 million over to each State to spend on any whim they may have?

[M1Tanker]

It is sad that even as we fight the genocidal philosophy of Islamofascism that the politicians still saddle the budget with so much political pork. The discretionary spending authorization of the President is a truly minuscule portion of the overall budget. The non-discretionary spending is grotesquely huge (NASA and the Military are part of discretionary spending). The IRS's "overhead" and miscalculations alone (equal to 25%+ of revenues taken in) could pay for a fleet of long range spacecraft and still keep us from deficit spending.

Real pork is great (esp with BBQ sauce), Political "Pork" kills. It is amazing that even after all we have been through, all congress can think of is their back pocket. Maybe we should start by taking away their tax free lifetime "pension" that they get after serving a term or two.

[RightWhale]

Repeal the Treaty or sit and watch NASA and the rest of the internationalists conduct their pitiful space operations.

[RightWhale]

By the way, you have used the word 'private' in a highly unusual way. The word 'public' is used in many ways every day, and few have actually figured out what the specific meanings actually are, but 'private' seems clear enough most of the time.

[agere_contra]

If the Chinese establish control of the Lunar water-ice deposits before the USA does then they will control access to the greater solar-system for centuries. The lunar ice has the strategic importance of Gibraltar and the Panama Canal rolled into one, as far as the future use-of-space goes.

[Cincinatus]

This effort by the Saganite Planetary Society has nothing whatsoever to do with science -- it's all about saving the academic community's entitlement.

The "Go-to-Mars-to-look-for-pond-scum" crowd is no longer setting the long-range strategic agenda for the agency -- and they resent it.

[Arcy]

Reason enough to end NASA.

[DManA]

That wonderful space station. What a boon(doggle) to science that is.

[DManA]

It's better not to extract the $400 million from the state in the first place.

[RightWhale]

In the case of Alaska, getting the $400 million returned to the State is making up for a fraction of the funds that are taken from the State and given to, for example, Louisiana.