Shorter House of Representatives: NASA shouldn’t do astrophysics anymore. Via the Tracker, an article by Eric Hand in Nature News that puts the fiasco in helpful graphical form.
Misleading graphic alert! The vertical scale starts at $0.5 billion, not at $0. But taking that into account merely changes the situation from “complete annihilation” to “devastating harm.” We’re talking about a 40% cut, which won’t leave room to do much more than keep the lights on for existing programs.
The 2011 numbers are the President’s budget request; the 2012 numbers are from the bill that passed the House. This isn’t yet law, so there’s still time; the Senate and the White House will (thankfully) be involved in the final compromise.
Times are tough, and not everything is worth doing. But there are few things more important to the long-term flourishing of a country than investment in basic science. Sad to see the future sacrificed for bizarre political reasons.
Something Robert Wilson once said, not about astrophysics or economics, but rather the SSC and what it might do for national defense, rings in my ears now and then. I think it makes a lot of sense still, in the present context…
“Nothing at all. It has only to do with the respect with which we regard one another, the dignity of men, our love of culture. It has to do with: Are we good painters, good sculptors, great poets? I mean all the things we really venerate in our country and are patriotic about. It has nothing to do directly with defending our country except to make it worth defending.”
Can’t believe how those in charge of a great nation can contemplate cutting basic science budgets such as astrophysics, and running NASA and space exploration down. Such things are the seedcorn of the future and NASA is a great ambassador for the US. As a Brit, I’ve always said that I wished some of my taxes went in to supporting it. All organisations have faults and none are perfect, but the US politicians are mad for cutting something as good as NASA.
Mind you when there are folks wanting to stand for President who think that the Earth was created in 6006BC and man co-existed with dinosaurs, what hope is there? I just hope that Russia, ESA, JAXA, India and China continue their visions for the human future in space.
“Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.”–Mark Twain
Think it’s bad for astrophysics? No, it’s going to get worse. Because pretty soon some senior members of the astronomical community will come out if not endorsing the cancellation of JWST, then at least raising some skepticism about why it shouldn’t be cancelled. Who would do this? Well, just look at the many missions that have been tabled/cancelled because of JWST. Now, the argument they have to make is that the money would be preserved for astrophysics. Not clearly the case.
The US military spends about $1.5 million per minute. ’nuff said.
Hi,
The scientist can find lots of thing but they won’t be able to explain eveything!!
It would be great that more and more people believe in God and in his son JESUS!:-) We can find our big questions in the bible and the answere is in there! If we read the bible we understand more about our planet.If you believe in JESUS and that he forgive your sins you will have eternal life.