Planetary Society Charges Administration with Blurring its Vision for Space Exploration

The Planetary Society Cites Cancelled Plans for a Europa and Other Science Missions

Pasadena, CA, — The NASA Budget released today shortchanges space science in order to fund 17 projected space shuttle flights. Despite recent spectacular results from NASA's science programs, this budget puts the brakes on their growth within the agency. It seriously damages the hugely productive and successful robotic exploration of our solar system and beyond.

According to this budget, flight projects that were already underway, such as the Space Interferometry Mission, will be delayed. Others, such as the Terrestrial Planet Finder and a mission to Jupiter's moon Europa, will be deferred indefinitely. Furthermore, the new budget slashes funding for the fundamental space science that makes such missions possible and turns raw data into discoveries.

http://www.planetary.org/about/press/releases/2006/0206_Planetary_Society_Charges.html