NASA’s Goals Delete Mention of Home Planet

A recent change in NASA’s mission statement has consequences, because many staff refer to that statement when crafting research proposals and agendas. The mission statement used to read: “To understand and protect our home planet; to explore the universe and search for life; to inspire the next generation of explorers ... as only NASA can.” But earlier this year, NASA officials deleted reference to understanding or protecting the home planet. The Bush administration sets ambitious goals about flights to the moon and beyond, including Mars, emphasizing space exploration. Critics suggest that the deletion is a deliberate effort to shift NASA’s attention away from controversial issues such as climate change here on Earth. Quiet changes like these, part of a disturbing trend in the US, probably won’t silence those who study and worry about the only environment known to be habitable for humans. – YaleGlobal