Cruz NASA hearing turns into an argument over Earth science programs

Examiner ^ | March 12, 2015 | Mark Whittington

[SoConPubbie]

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas conducted his second hearing on NASA for his Senate Subcommittee on Space, Science, and Competitiveness Thursday morning. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden was the sole witness. The president’s FY 2016 budget request was the subject of the hearing. According to the Hill, much of the hearing consisted of an argument over Senator Cruz’s assertion that NASA is spending too much money on Earth science and not enough on space exploration.

Bolden vehemently disagreed with the first part of Cruz’s supposition, though not necessarily the second. He waxed eloquently about the space agency’s Earth science program, noting, for example, that it has provided useful data concerning soil in Texas. This statement caused Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colorado to give what the Houston Chronicle’s Eric Berger described as, “The line of the day.” Gardner asked, “Are we focusing on the heavens at NASA or dirt in Texas?”

Bolden also pointed out that while other agencies in the government, such as NOAA, engage in Earth science research, only NASA has expertise in the building, launch, and use of civilian satellites. NASA builds and launches Earth observation satellites and then turns over the use of them to other entities, teaching them how to process and use the data they provide. Therefore, Bolden argued, NASA has a vital role in Earth science.

Cruz did not back down on his point on priorities. While he conceded that NASA was doing a lot of useful things in Earth science, he pointed out that the space exploration part of the budget is being underfunded.

[SoConPubbie]

"If we must have an enemy at the head of Government, let it be one whom we can oppose, and for whom we are not responsible, who will not involve our party in the disgrace of his foolish and bad measures." - Alexander Hamilton "We don't intend to turn the Republican Party over to the traitors in the battle just ended. We will have no more of those candidates who are pledged to the same goals as our opposition and who seek our support. Turning the Party over to the so-called moderates wouldn’t make any sense at all." -- President Ronald Reagan "A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice." - Thomas Paine 1792 "It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." - Samuel Adams "If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen." - Samuel Adams

[SoConPubbie]

Ted Cruz Ping!

If you want on/off this ping list, please let me know.

Please beware, this is a high-volume ping list!

CRUZ or LOSE!

CRUZ or LOSE!

[InterceptPoint]

Go Cruz Go

[GraceG]

Gardner asked, “Are we focusing on the heavens at NASA or dirt in Texas?”

First thing Cory did in the senate I agree with,...

[Lisbon1940]

NASA should do Mars science. Earth is well understood.

[kingu]

Hi, this is NOAA, meet NASA. NOAA’s budget is really for earth sciences, NASA’s is for space exploration. NASA, all your earth science programs are being re-assigned back to NOAA where it belongs. You are welcome to help this transition, consult with NOAA, but otherwise, your eyes are to go outward, NOAA’s is to go inward, and everyone get back to doing their job.

[MAexile]

NASA should be there to guarantee access to Space.

That way others can use Space to engage in scientific endeavors, extract resources, commerce, etc, etc.

[samtheman]

Is there any part of the federal government this administration hasn’t purposely distorted and screwed up?

[kidd]

I would like Bolden to explain Jim Hansen’s role at NASA.

Hansen is not teaching NOAA how to use their satellite data. In fact Jim Hansen dismisses satellite data and prefers ground-based thermometer trends because the satellite data ruins the entire concept of AGW.

[jospehm20]

I thought Obama said NASA is for muslim outreach?

[blowfish]

I like how every congress critter is quick to exclaim “I’m not a scientist!” when asked a tough question, yet they are all ready to micromanage scientific research programs. And one of the main goals of launching stuff into space is to better study the Earth. It’s not like Washington is going to fund a Mars colony or anything like that.
Either use NASA for Scientific research or kill it completely.

[combat_boots]

[Vince Ferrer]

...only NASA has expertise in the building, launch, and use of civilian satellites. NASA builds and launches Earth observation satellites and then turns over the use of them to other entities, teaching them how to process and use the data they provide. Therefore, Bolden argued, NASA has a vital role in Earth science.

Decades ago that was true. However, we are now in a new era of private space innovation. Launch costs are falling dramatically, and the cost of satellites is also falling considerably. Space is now not only the playground of nations, companies and universities have the financial resources to do valid science in space.

[taxcontrol]

That quote put a smile on this Coloradan’s face.

[JOAT]

yet they are all ready to micromanage scientific research programs.

Could that be because they're FUNDING it?

I expect them to question the worthiness of anything paid for by my taxes, not write blank checks.

[Monorprise]

“NASA should do Mars science. Earth is well understood.”

I’m not sure why we need to spend billions of dollars building rockets only to look at and study that which we can already see from the ground.

I’m quite sure Environmental wackos find their private satellites quite desirable, but shouldn’t NOAA not NASA pay for it?

[LambSlave]

Go Ted!!

[Colorado Doug]

It's unbelievable that we went from landing a man on the moon decades ago to now having to beg a ride on a Russian rocket just to get to an orbiting space station. I'll bet the good people of Texas have Texas dirt figured out just fine without NASA’s help.

[wastedyears]

Is there any part of the federal government this administration hasn’t purposely distorted and screwed up?

IRS, BATFE, etc.