The *original* charter for NASA from 1958 did not include provisions for
Earth studies:
National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 (Unamended).
[Editorial Headnote: "National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958," Public
Law #85-568, 72 Stat., 426. Signed by the President on July 29, 1958, Record
Group 255, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C;
available in NASA Historical Reference Collection, History Office, NASA
Headquarters, Washington, D.C. Page references to original document in
brackets.]
http://history.nasa.gov/spaceact.html
However the new charter supported by Obama and passed by Congress does
include Earth studies:
CHAPTER 201—NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE PROGRAM
SUBCHAPTER I--SHORT TITLE, DECLARATION OF POLICY, AND DEFINITIONS
http://www.nasa.gov/offices/ogc/about/space_act1.html#POLICY
The question is should NASA focus on what the original charter was devoted
to. Note, even planetary science supporters should be concerned about this
because the "Earth studies" portion of the funding for NASA now reaches 41%,
cutting greatly into both unmanned space missions and manned missions.
Bob Clark
------------------------------------------------------------------
Single-stage-to-orbit was already shown possible 50 years ago
with the Titan II first stage.
In fact, contrary to popular belief SSTO's are actually easy.
Just use the most efficient engines and stages at the same time,
and the result will automatically be SSTO.
Blog:
Http://Exoscientist.blogspot.com
------------------------------------------------------------------
"Jeff Findley" wrote in message
news:MPG.2f746712e...@news.eternal-september.org...
In article <
f5ednUsh_N6kbpTI...@earthlink.com>,
moo...@deletethisgreenms.com says...
>
> "jacob navia" wrote in message news:mebohs$n0$1...@speranza.aioe.org...
> >
> >See:
> >
http://www.newsweek.com/nasa-california-has-one-year-water-left-313647
> >
> >Consequence:
> >
> >Ted Cruz Tells NASA to Stop Worrying About Climate Change and Focus on
> >Space
> >
> >
http://www.nationaljournal.com/2016-elections/ted-cruz-tells-nasa-to-stop-worrying-about-climate-change-and-focus-on-space-20150312
> >
> >If temperature is too high... BREAK THE THERMOMETER!
> >
> >:-)
>
>
> Actually I'm fine with this. As long as someone like NOAA or another
> agency
> takes over.
>
> I think monitoring the environment remotely is hugely important and NASA
> has
> a role there in supporting such operations, but it's not really their end
> goal.
>
> They should be focusing on space.
Except for the pesky little fact that it's written into NASA's charter!
http://www.nasa.gov/offices/ogc/about/space_act1.html#FUNCTIONS
From above:
(1) The expansion of human knowledge of the Earth and of phenomena
in the atmosphere and space.
In other words, they're doing what they're supposed to be doing. Talk
of taking this responsibility away from NASA is really talk about
changing its charter. And for more historical context, that bit about
Earth was added during the Reagan Administration.
Bottom line for me is that earth science was just fine for the
Republicans, until they started to dislike the data because it conflicts
with their world view. Rather than working on changing their world
view, instead they seem to be opposing collecting more data.
Jeff
--
"the perennial claim that hypersonic airbreathing propulsion would
magically make space launch cheaper is nonsense -- LOX is much cheaper
than advanced airbreathing engines, and so are the tanks to put it in
and the extra thrust to carry it." - Henry Spencer