Science Friday: Another beneficial NASA program bites the dust

Another post courtesy of physicist Robert Parks' newsletter. As usual, it highlights the current administration's war on science-- especially when the scientific benefits stand to undermine the White House's ties with big oil. It also points out the political ends to which NASA is being used these days. Namely, "provide us with headlines or face defunding." NASA, noble goals notwithstanding, has become yet another pawn of an unabashedly Machiavellian administration.

Triana was never able to overcome its roots. NASA has quietly terminated what may have been its most important science mission. Critics of programs to limit emissions argue that climate change is caused by solar variation, not by atmospheric changes. There is one unambiguous way to tell: locate an observatory at L-1, the neutral-gravity point between Earth and Sun. It would have a continuous view of the sunlit face of Earth in one direction, and the Sun in the other, thus constantly monitoring Earth's albedo. Al Gore initiated the observatory project in 1998 to inspire school children with a continuous view of climate unfolding on our fragile planet. It was even given a poetic name, Triana, the sailor on the Santa Maria who was first to sight the New World. But Triana's importance to climate research, perhaps Earths biggest challenge, was not recognized until later. With urging from the National Academy, it was finished in 2001 and given a new name. It was still waiting to be launched when Columbia crashed. By then we had a new President and a new "vision." It was put on hold. The official reason for killing it is "competing priorities." The priority is to replace Gore's vision of the world with the Bush vision of sending people back to the moon. We should all weep.

One step ahead of you, Dr. Parks.