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Projects: S.O.S: Save Our Science!

S.O.S. Campaign Update:

NASA Mission Statement Altered

Click to enlarge > View of Earth rising over Moon's horizon taken from Apollo 11 spacecraft July 16, 1969 - This view of the Earth rising over the Moon's horizon was taken from the Apollo 11 spacecraft. The lunar terrain pictured is in the area of Smuth's Sea on the nearside. Coordinates of the center of the terrain are 85 degrees east longitude and 3 degrees north latitude. Credit: NASA Johnson Space Center (NASA-JSC)

In another attack on science at NASA, it was reported that the NASA mission statement was altered to remove the phrase, "understand and protect the Earth." We regard this as another attempt to diminish the importance of science at NASA and its use as a guide for space exploration.

Helping to understand the Earth is one of the principal products and benefits of space science, and using this information to protect our planet is one of NASA's great achievements. The Society can think of no reason to eliminate this aspect of NASA's mission