Forget About Mars, Bitches

Funding Bill Could Limit Exploration Of Mars, Moon

Members of the Mars Society suggest the government's plans are underfunded and could make it difficult to send people to the Red Planet or the moon.

By K.C. Jones
InformationWeek
January 3, 2008 12:30 PM

The federal government has not given NASA enough support to advance its exploration of the moon and plans to send people to Mars, according to a group that backs exploration of Mars.

The Mars Society said that the congressional omnibus appropriations bills, signed by President Bush last week, would prohibit research, development, or demonstration activities exclusive to Mars exploration.

The criticism is notable because Bush backs NASA's plans for exploration of the Red Planet as well as the moon.

The bill does increase funding for science missions, including Mars exploration, but the restrictive language limits possibilities, according to the Mars Society.

"Not only is this language counterproductive to running a coherent multiyear exploration plan, but it is not consistent with the NASA authorization that Congress overwhelmingly approved in 2005," the Mars Society explained in an announcement criticizing the bill. "In that authorization bill, Congress approved NASA's plans to send humans to Mars and supported the expenditures that will be necessary to make that goal possible -- something that the omnibus bill does not do."

Mars Society political director Chris Carberry conceded that the bill isn't likely to have a major impact on the program this year but added that the language sets a "terrible precedent."

"If this language makes it into future budgets, I guarantee that this program will slowly become a moon-only effort -- or worse," he said. "Congress and the next president of the United States need to accelerate this program rather than limiting it. We certainly will not be creating an effective program or be serving the taxpayers well by keeping this program endlessly on 'life-support.' "

The Mars Society, which counts 7,000 members in 40 countries, wants Congress to make sure the language it opposes does not make it into future budgets.

"It is time for the United States to fully commit to sending humans to Mars as soon as possible," the group said.