Senate Bill Threatens Mars and Other Planetary Missions

paulscottanderson · Jul 4, 2007

...including the rovers?! http://www.planetary.org/news/2007/0703_NASA_Mars_Program_Threatened_by_Senate.html <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> -----------------The Meridiani Journal a chronicle of planetary exploration web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

qso1 · Jul 4, 2007

Probably not. By the time the bill becomes law...the rovers will surely have expired...then again...one of the Viking missions was shut down by budget cuts six years after it landed. But it was nuclear powered. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> My borrowed quote for the time being:There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened. </div>

qso1 · Jul 4, 2007

Just looked at the link and indeed it does look like there in a bit of a hurry to shut the rover down. No surprise to me. It also suggests I'm right about space critics ultimate goals. They always say unmanned is better than manned spaceflight but when NASAs manned budgets are cut, they continue to look for cuts elsewhere. But I'm sure we probably could use the savings to increase the deficit or the Iraq rebuild budget. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> My borrowed quote for the time being:There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened. </div>

mattblack · Jul 4, 2007

The usual suspects.... <img src="/images/icons/frown.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> One Percent of Federal Funding For Space: America CAN Afford it!! LEO is a Prison -- It's time for a JAILBREAK!! </div>

vishniac2 · Jul 4, 2007

There are now 2 threads on this page saying the opposite, this one and the "More money for NASA, bill". Since the two of them speak about the US Senate, what is it? A little explanation for your friends far away, please! And happy July 4 for all of you on the other side of the Atlantic!

3488 · Jul 4, 2007

Hi vishniac2. Yes I too am a bit perplexed about this. I second that vishniac2, I hope too that all of our American friends have a good holiday today. You all have a right to be very proud of your country. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

MeteorWayne · Jul 4, 2007

Well here's an excerpt from this article. Congress is getting involved on where the money is spent, so while the overall budget is up, politicians are choosing where the money will be spent. "A NASA budget proposal for fiscal year 2008 currently making its way through the U.S. Senate includes a dramatic cut of $30 million in funding for planetary science missions. It appears that the entire sum will be taken out of the Mars exploration budget, including $20 million from funds supporting the Mars Exploration Rovers. This could force NASA to shut down the Mars rovers at the end of the current fiscal year! The Senate bill proposes these severe cuts to the Mars program despite the fact that overall it provides for a substantial increase in NASA funding. If approved, the bill will allocate NASA a total of $17.46 billion, $1.2 billion more than the agencyâ€™s 2007 budget, and $150 million more than the administrationâ€™s request for 2008. The proposal was crafted by the Senate Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science, and cleared the Senate Appropriations Committee on June 28, 2007." <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

MeteorWayne · Jul 4, 2007

Glad you don't hold a grudge about that Independece thing, Andrew <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

3488 · Jul 4, 2007

No, not at all MeteorWayne. Your country did the right thing. Britain, was & is a powerful bully. So no I am not offended at all. I hope that you are all having a good day & I hope to visit along with my wife at some point. I have never been across the Atlantic before, but the USA, does appeal to me greatly & generally I am very pro USA. I think you live in a great country. Hope to get to visit at some point. I have had the good fortune to meet many Americans & without exception, all were fantastic considerate people. Not like the pathetic stereotypes that the media portrays. Not to mention the incredible natural wonders & engineering achievements in your country. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

MeteorWayne · Jul 4, 2007

Rather funny, now we're the bully <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> I think in the long run, it worked out well for everyone. But we are drifting a bit off topic, aren't we? <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

3488 · Jul 4, 2007

I hope this does not kill off the MERs' etc. That would be criminal. If they are operational, the missions should continue until they pack up. Perhaps they are hoping the current dust storm activity on Mars will finish them. I say No. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

frodo1008 · Jul 4, 2007

I am certain that NASA will find a way around this. To a $17 billion dollar budget, $30 million is just change. It would fund the ME operations for about 20 minutes! As long as the rovers are still running and doing useful scientific work I can't see NASA just shutting them down.

arkady · Jul 4, 2007

I agree, given the cost and effort going into putting them there you might aswell cancel the whole spaceprogram then. A bit like building the Golden Gate Bridge and then deciding not to open it. At some point, defining "useful scientific work" will be somewhat a matter of debate I suppose, but it seems obvious to me that the rovers will expire or atleast become immobilized long before such a time. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "The choice is the Universe, or nothing ... " - H.G Wells </div>

3488 · Jul 4, 2007

Hi arkady. I agree. The MERs will be useful all the time the cameras (at least the Pan Cams & Navcams) are still working. Even if they cannot drive, but can still obtain data, they would still be impressive static landers. We'll see. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

comga · Jul 4, 2007

"I am certain that NASA will find a way around this. To a $17 billion dollar budget, $30 million is just change. It would fund the ME operations for about 20 minutes! " Small point: $30M is actually one day out of a 365 day year with $11B. A tad more significant than 20 minutes. Not that it matters. Larger point: Your statement assumes that "NASA" wants to find a way. Some at NASA, and many of us, would like to see the rovers keep going as long as they last, and think that half a percent ($30M/$6B) of the Science budget is reasonable. However, there are other people at NASA, some very high up, that see the $30M/yr as a painful tax and want it to end. It also consumes DSN time, which is a overextended resource, and a system that could use these funds for maintainence.

MeteorWayne · Jul 4, 2007

Both viewpoints are valid. We all have our preferences as to how WE would spend the money. That is, realistically, irrelevant as to how the money is distributed. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

acid_frost · Jul 4, 2007

I don't understand why NASA doesn't privatize itself by half in some way? That way and IMO if NASA was more privatized it could control its direction and perhaps more investment into other areas which would be limited otherwise?

3488 · Jul 4, 2007

Hi Comga & MeteorWayne. Comga, I see your point, but I can see, that you, like me agree that the MERs MUST continue for as long as they can. It would be a crime to let the MERs die, due to a tiny sum. Then again, I was part of the campiagn to get the Galileo orbiter to image Io during I33 & Amalthea during A34 encounter. NASA refused stating that the very paltry sum of $1.24 m could not be justified, as Galileo might go into safing. True Galileo did, but not until NINE hours after closest approach to Amalthea. The few images that may had been possible were never obtained. So I can see a parallel here with the MERs. Perhaps we should get a petition going to keep the MERs going, until they BOTH pack up? Their missions are far too important to end because their extra long life may be 'inconvenient' to a few pen pushers. It would be a slap in the face for the MER teams, the MER construction engineers, the Boeing / Delta engineers & launch teams for sending both MERs so accurately & above all safely to Mars. Any traitorous thoughts of ending the MERs before their time must be resisted. Too many good people have made them the huge success they are, to just write off as being inconvenient. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

deapfreeze · Jul 4, 2007

Maybe someone in the private sector could look into keeping them running. It would be a big project for a company to take on but well worth it don't you think? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> William ( deapfreeze ) Hooperhttp://deapfreeze-amateur-astronomy.tk/ </div>

no_way · Jul 4, 2007

Id it was politically doable .. i'd start a campaign for some big budget advertising department to pick this financing job. Why ? Because the only real value you get out of sponsoring MERs is publicity ( besides science, but this does not mean jack to any company on earth right now ). So campaign for Nike, Coke or some company like that to pick it up and keep going. In exchange ( again, if this is politically doable, i dont know US laws ) they'd get permission to use MERs in their ads for certain time or something like that.

deapfreeze · Jul 4, 2007

As cool as it would be to see the Coca Cola Rovers. I would think a company like Virgin Galactic or someone that is trying to be the big guns in the private sector would look at this to boost their image. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> William ( deapfreeze ) Hooperhttp://deapfreeze-amateur-astronomy.tk/ </div>

thereiwas · Jul 5, 2007

Lots more pork to go around in the manned missions. That is what congress is interested in, not the science.

deapfreeze · Jul 5, 2007

Manned missions are great but why just throw away machines that are where we haven't put humans yet? I can understand not running robots on the moon makes sense we can go there we know this because we have done it. Until we put a human foot on Mars it is a terrible idea to shut down those machines. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> William ( deapfreeze ) Hooperhttp://deapfreeze-amateur-astronomy.tk/ </div>

gunsandrockets · Jul 6, 2007

What the hell is wrong with the Congress? First the House puts in language banning any spending for manned mars exploration R&D and now the Senate with language cutting funding for unmanned mars exploration. What is their malfunction? http://www.marssociety.org/portal/Members/jlagarde/saveMarsBudget2007/

qso1 · Jul 6, 2007

If your referring to the mars explorations currently operating on mars. They will long since have died by the time the first boot hits martian soil despite the fact they have lasted a lot longer than originally planned. There will be future unmanned mars landers but if I were in charge...I would be confident of putting humans on mars with the data we have today. Remember when the Von Braun plan was making the rounds? The 1969 plan called for a 1981-82 landing. Had that occured, we had only two Viking landers to provide the data. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> My borrowed quote for the time being:There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened. </div>

Senate Bill Threatens Mars and Other Planetary Missions

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