At a space conference in Los Angeles today, The Planetary Society (co-founded by Carl Sagan) announced news from the "Save Our Science (SOS)" campaign protesting planned budget cuts for NASA's space science program:
"Budget action is needed now," said Planetary Society Vice-President Bill Nye, "The longer you drive in the wrong direction, the longer it'll take you to get where you really want to go."
(…) The proposal, submitted by the Bush Administration for NASA, would slash $3 billion from the planned exploration of the solar system as well as from space science research and analysis.
The Planetary Society announcement goes on to say that following missions will be killed if the budget passes:
* Europa mission – a prime candidate for finding life beyond Earth
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Terrestrial Planet Finder – a search for Earth-like worlds elsewhere in the galaxy
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Mars Sample Return mission and all precursor activities for human exploration of the Red Planet.
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Mars Telecommunications Orbiter – to relay lander data and begin an infrastructure for future Mars exploration
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The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) – an airborne infrared observatory
* In addition, the budget cuts astrobiology, the study of and search for life beyond earth, by a full 50%.
* University research funding also would be cut 15% across the board, eliminating many bright young people from the field of space science.
Link to "SOS" online petition.
