"Jeff Findley" wrote:

:
:"Fred J. McCall" wrote in message
.. .
: Bruce Scott TOK ] wrote:
:
: :Fred McCall wrote:
: :Earth science and environmentalism. I've been rather expecting this.
: :
: :Sound scientific policy. Not surprised you're put off by it though.
:
: Introspective navel gazing. Not surprised you're in favour of it.
: Cowards generally don't like looking outward.
:
:How can one explore the world around himself without first understanding
:himself? ;-)
:

It's quite easy, actually. Just open eyes and look. :-)

:
:Kidding a bit here, but seriously, knowing more about our own planet will
:help us understand other planets better and vice-versa. This isn't an
:either/or choice. We can do both, especially since earth observation
:satellites generally cost a lot less (total program cost) than
:interplanetary ones. Even if the satellites are the same cost, launch costs
:and tracking and data relay is a lot cheaper for something in earth orbit
:than say Saturn's orbit.
:

I think the translation works better going the other direction; we
learn more about Earth by gathering more examples of how planets act.
I think what we can expect from the Obama administration is mostly
studies of global warming. While it may need to be done, it certainly
shouldn't be the entire space program.