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Campaign Update: Congressional Inaction Leaves Science Still Devastated

November 22, 2006

by Louis D. Friedman

Congress is back to work in what is known as a lame-duck session. (This means Congress members are still serving after the November election but before the start of new terms, which will begin in January.) As I described in my last update, Congress still has not acted on many government budget items, including NASA's fiscal year 2007 budget.

In a memo to employees, NASA published its own analysis of the status of the budget consideration by Congress . NASA rejected the House Appropriations Committee's support for a Europa mission, as well as for Terrestrial Planet Finder and the Space Interferometry Mission, citing that they would do more studies instead.

I am particularly upset that NASA is using Cassini's new exciting results about the moons of Saturn, Titan, and Enceladus as an excuse to oppose Congressional support for a mission to Europa. The Europa mission new start proposal has been developed now for several years, has had extensive mission and spacecraft design analysis, and is a mature concept ready for Congressional approval. One year ago, Congress approved funding for it, which NASA rejected! This year, NASA seems determined to do so again.

(NASA also fought Congress' support and interest in the Pluto mission for several years.   We fought for this mission in Congress, and won. New Horizons is now on its way to Pluto.)

The Titan and Enceladus results are most exciting and intriguing, but Cassini is still exploring these bodies and will continue to discover more about these moons and the Saturnian system. In addition, no mission design for either an Enceledus or Titan mission has been proposed. That NASA wants to study new ideas is very welcome, but not as an excuse to cancel work on an already high-priority mission.

Space Science Trashed!

The Europa mission is endorsed by science advisory groups as the highest priority outer planet mission. Europa has the only known extraterrestrial ocean, and many consider it the most likely abode for possible extraterrestrial life in our solar system. (Others still favor Mars).

The Planetary Society remains committed to fighting for the Europa mission in the fiscal year 2007 budget. I fear that if it fails to get into the budget this year, NASA will have successfully delayed any new mission to the outer planets for several years, slowing the pace of exploration of the solar system for a decade or more.

The NASA memo failed to mention the severe cuts in the science budget to Research and Analysis, including a 50% cut to astrobiology. We will continue the Save Our Science campaign to overturn the Administration proposal for these cuts. You can help by signing the petition today.

It is possible that the lame-duck Congress may act on this issue in December. However, we may be waiting until the new (Democratic) Congress takes power in January. We'll continue to update you here.

Comments? We welcome your opinions on this subject. Send us email!