Surprising Budget News for Planetary Exploration

Good news, for a change! Congress decided to provide $127 million more for planetary science than was requested by the President. Bill Adkins of Adkins Strategies in Washington and the Society’s Director of Advocacy, Casey Dreier say a battle has been won, but the war for science continues. Emily Lakdawalla helps us understand how an eye in the Martian sky helps track Curiosity on the surface. Bill Nye addresses the mastodon in the room, and there’s a new and cool prize for the winner of the What’s Up space trivia contest.

Related Links:

• Continued Victories for Planetary Exploration
• Let’s Blitz Congress!
• HiRISE Image Coverage of the Curiosity Field Site on Mars
• Beyond Earth Design From Chop Shop

This week's prize is "Beyond Earth," the beautiful, letterpress 19"x25" poster from Chop Shop. See it at chopshopstore.com.

This week's question:

What is the region in the electromagnetic spectrum that is between ultraviolet and gamma rays?

To submit your answer:

Complete the contest entry form at http://planetary.org/radiocontest or write to us at [email protected] no later than Tuesday, February 18, at 2pm Pacific Time. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.

Last week's question:

What comet did the astronauts on Skylab IV observe?

Answer:

The answer will be revealed next week.

Question from the week before:

What three rovers have roved the farthest on bodies other than Earth?

Answer:

The three rovers that have roved the farthest: The Apollo 17 lunar rover, Lunakhod 2 on the moon, and the champion (or soon to be champion) Opportunity on Mars.