Letter in protest of House NASA bill is signed by 30 Nobel Laureates, former NASA officials, astrona

[bananas]

http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/?itemid=23222

Letter in protest of House NASA bill is signed by 30 Nobel Laureates, former NASA officials, astronauts, and others
Scott Hubbard, former head of NASA Ames and now at Stanford, is distributing a letter that was

signed by a total of 30 Nobel Laureates, NASA astronauts, former NASA senior officials, and other space and science educators, was just delivered to Rep. Gordon, the Chairman of the House Science Committee, and copies were delivered to the Speaker of the House and the House Majority Leader.

He goes on to say

that this letter may well represent one of the most distinguished yet diverse sets of people to ever put forth a unified position on our nation’s space program.

The reason this disparate group – including representatives from both the human spaceflight and science sides of our community – united into a single letter is because we believe that the House version of the NASA Authorization Bill, as currently written, needs significant improvements.

Here is the text of the letter:

Dear Chairman Gordon:

<snip>

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_space_thewritestuff/2010/08/nobel-laureates-and-astronauts-demand-changes-to-nasa-bill.html

Nobel laureates and astronauts demand changes to NASA bill
August, 31 2010 9:23 PM

A group of 30 Nobel laureates, NASA astronauts, former NASA senior officials, and other space boosters Tuesday sent a protest letter to Rep. Bart Gordon, D- Tennessee, the Chairman of the House Science Committee, demanding significant changes to the House NASA authorization bill.

“When you review the list of 30 distinguished signatories, I believe you will see that this letter may well represent one of the most distinguished yet diverse sets of people to ever put forth a unified position on our nation’s space program,” said Scott Hubbard, Former Director, NASA Ames Research Center in California and one of the signatories.

The group expressed support for President Barack Obama’s plans to increase the agency’s budget for technology development, robotic missions and commercial human spaceflight.

<snip>

“The data are sobering: since 2005, NASA’s technology program has been cut by more than 50 percent; robotic exploration precursor missions were eliminated; NASA was unable to fund commercial systems for carrying crew to the International Space Station despite a pressing need to avoid extended reliance on the Russian Soyuz; and NASA-sponsored university research was sharply curtailed.”

<snip>

It's 30 signatures total, about half are Nobel laureates.
PDF of the letter: http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_space_thewritestuff/files/2010/08/NASA_Letter_-_Aug_31_2010_-_FINAL_001.pdf

[aquart]

1. I don't understand anyone who doesn't understand why we need a space program.

I just don't. I can disagree on politics and still be friends, but not on this.

[benlurkin]

3. I agree with you!

Cut almost anything BUT space exploration. Matter of fact, throw in some major funding for ocean exploration while we're at it. Time we get back to the Marianas Trench.

[aquart]

4. YES!

[Johonny]

5. the debate isn't over if we need a space program

but what form the program should look like.

[metapunditedgy]

7. The Bush admin slashed science funding to support "space exploration."

(At least that's what it looked like to scientists.)

Furthermore, "space exploration" is really a euphemism for "big fat gov't contracts to aerospace and defense firms." The former NASA head is still lobbying for these fat contracts. The only reason the contracts were cut is because the development of the "space exploration" vehicles was going so badly.

I like space exploration too, but there's some back-story here.

[Posteritatis]

9. A lot of it is morons who don't get how miniscule NASA's budget is. (nt)

[Xipe Totec]

2. NASA Budget 2010 - 18.9 Billion

Iraq (Combat Operations are Over) War 2010 - 65.1 Billion

Afghanistan (We can win this one) War 2010 - 106.6 Billion.

http://www.nationalpriorities.org/costofwar_home


Proposed GOP Tax cuts for the rich 2010 - 36 Billion

http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2010/08/gop-backed_tax_cuts_for_rich_c.html


A reshuffling of budget priorities - Priceless.

[Nihil]

8. I like your euphemism ...

> NASA Budget 2010 - 18.9 Billion
> Iraq (Combat Operations are Over) War 2010 - 65.1 Billion
> Afghanistan (We can win this one) War 2010 - 106.6 Billion.
> Proposed GOP Tax cuts for the rich 2010 - 36 Billion
> A reshuffling of budget priorities - Priceless.

"Priceless" = "NotAFuckingChanceInHell"

[Better Today]

6. Gee, you mean thirty folks who get there paychecks and grants based

on this bill being excessively generous think it should be more?!?!?! I'm shocked. /sarcasm