WASHINGTON (States News Service) -- Political maneuvering for the 2000 presidential race means NASA's Triana satellite will probably not launch sooner than 2001, if it gets to launch at all.
A provision in the final version of the VA-HUD Appropriations bill, which includes the NASA budget, calls on the independent National Academy of Science to review the controversial satellite's science objectives. NASA must suspend all work on the program for 60 to 90 days for the academy's review, which Congress will then use to decide the fate of the program.
But even if Triana passes the review, the bill prohibits NASA from launching until January 1, 2001.
"We were trying to take the politics out of it," said John Simmons, an aide to House VA-HUD subcommittee chairman Rep. James Walsh (R-New York). "It's been coming back to us that, even though [NASA] promised not to launch it until 2001, there was a push for an October flight, which would have been in time for [Vice President Al] Gore's campaign."
The satellite has repeatedly come under fire from congressional Republicans, particularly Science Committee Chairman Rep. James Sensenbrenner, who derisively nicknamed it the "Gore-sat." The concept for the craft, which would provide a picture of earth 24-hours-a-day over the internet, reportedly came to the vice president in a dream.
NASA has since added magnetic and radiation survey equipment to the satellite, but Sensenbrenner has contended that the scientific value is still minimal and that the mission can do nothing new. He has also charged that the agency is launching Triana to please Gore.
"Triana can stand based on its own scientific merits" in any scientific review, NASA spokesman David Steitz said. "We've said that since the beginning."
Gore is already campaigning hard for the presidency. An October launch could give him an additional public relations boost just before the final November election, assuming Gore is the eventual Democratic nominee.
"Gore would want to make a big announcement at the end of October," a GOP congressional aide said. "If it's a good program, than let it stand on its own merits, otherwise don't play politics with the program."
The October launch was just to take advantage of an available shuttle flight, STS-107, Steitz said. While NASA has not been officially notified of the provision because it is not yet law, the agency "will, of course, abide by the will of Congress," he said.
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