Reply #1: Bush's NASA priorities under fire

[Judi Lynn]

Feb. 17, 2006, 3:23AM
Bush's NASA priorities under fire
Moon plan saps money from other efforts, critics say


By MARK CARREAU
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

Disgruntled members of a congressional oversight committee objected Wednesday to a White House budget plan that threatens to cripple NASA's unmanned space programs and Earth and aeronautics research, President Bush's plan instead emphasizes sending American explorers back to the moon by 2018.

The lawmakers' bipartisan complaint emerged as the House Science Committee quizzed NASA administrator Michael Griffin and his top deputy, Shana Dale, about the agency's proposed $16.8 billion budget for 2007.

The $104 billion Bush human exploration plan would force long delays of satellite missions intended to unlock the mysteries of the early universe, assess the Earth's environment and spur advancements in conventional air travel.

Much of the criticism Thursday focused on the administration's annual funding estimates for individual NASA programs through 2010, which fall well below Bush administration projections of a year ago for space and Earth science, as well as aeronautics.
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http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/3665957.html
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