The society also issued the following statement:
The House VA-HUD-IA Appropriations Subcommittee this evening voted to slash $1.3 billion from NASAs FY 2000 budget, which could cripple the agency and force the termination of many critical space science missions, according to Dr. Louis Friedman, Executive Director of The Planetary Society.
"The House action gives new meaning to deep impact," said Friedman. "The space science cuts are the most devastating in NASAs history and effectively curtail space exploration after 2001. Its an irresponsible budget that does terrible harm to Americas future."
"NASAs budget has been reduced every year since 1992, and the proposed cuts would be the coup de grâce," Friedman added. "In the last decade NASA has led the federal government in accomplishing more for less. Now, these gains will be lost."
The Congressional action ironically occurs as NASA astronauts are in orbit launching Chandra, a new Great Observatory.
The House $1.3 billion cutback is about 10 percent of NASAs total funding ($13.665 billion). But the cut to the space science program, now $2.2 billion, is $640 million 29 percent!
If this action is passed by the full Congress, the planetary missions that would probably be terminated include:
- All missions to Mars after 2001, including the international sample return mission in 2005.
- All Discovery missions after Stardust
- The Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF)
- The Europa orbiter
- Missions to the outer planets
- Explorer Program missions
Additional space and Earth science missions would also be cancelled.
"The House cuts fly in the face of recent Congressional studies that recommend investing more not less in science and technology," Friedman said.
The full House recently passed the NASA authorization bill, which boosts spending above the Administrations request. "If the House is truly serious about these cutbacks, it should hold hearings to allow for public comment," Friedman said. "At a minimum, a full and open debate about alternatives to ending the American role in space exploration should be held."
Carl Sagan, Bruce Murray and Louis Friedman founded the Planetary Society in 1979 to advance the exploration of the solar system and to continue the search for extraterrestrial life. With 100,000 members in more than 140 countries, the Society is the largest space interest group in the world.
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